Consciousness The Missing Link

Author : A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

About the book

This book consists of only 100 pages and focuses mostly on the understanding of the human consciousness from the perspective of modern science where we constantly try to find reasons and the origin of life and a perspective of sanatan dharma which mostly focuses on the unexplainably of it

Summary

In chapter one the conversation is happening between his Divine grace Swami prabhupada and Dr, Gregory benford. Where both of them are trying to explain their point of view on different aspects of life like life, death, intelligence ,psychology and metaphysics

While dr.benford is trying to find out the answers to life and the life processes ,Swami prabhupada is explaining that why the human mind should not be limited to the questions and should be devoted to the higher power (Krshan) in order to understand the same

In between somewhere Swami prabhupada quoted “why are you studying the grass , what is it going to give you “ In reciprocation to that Dr, benford said “if I understand the molecules of the grass it might help me understand the process will satisfy the curiosity of human mind “ . Where swami prabhupada was trying to prove that despite of humans studying the grass or not , its not going to stop growing . and there is no need to study it

The second chapter explains in the line of what is inspiration ? as per the modern science mind is nothing but a complex machine which consist of a bunch of neurons which follow some mechanical instructions . Then one can write , explain, moderate and change this set of instructions or algorithms that goes on creating inspiration for human beings ,is that possible ?

And if that is the way , why is that some humans get inspired through abrupt realization and some human receive it at a very different pace or not at all ? what are the intermediate steps of receiving the inspiration ? can someone define it yet ? and if at all we can define it how are these complex algorithms exists in human mind in the first place ?

The third and fourth chapter mostly focused on a comparison of a modern day computer as we say .scientists have said that we can imitate the human consciousness into computers using artificial intelligence . The author went on and explained church’s thesis which states “any complex piece of information can be carried out by the modern day computers if it is reduced to a list of simple operations “ .If we consider this as true and we should be able to create a human mind (using AI) how can we co relate this activity with the consciousness perception of thoughts and feelings ?

What are consciousness ? if we have to define it we can say “consciousness is a awareness of thoughts and sensations that we perceive and we know that we perceive “. If we are to say we can pass on these to a computer and live forever ?, then how exactly are we supposed to pass it on ? no scientists till date has been successful on proving this theory till date .

Then the author went on describing the essence of “Sanatana dharma “ which explains that all the living beings consist of “atma” and “physical body “. Where this mere physical body decays atma lives and reincarnates in different form of living being .And this non-physical fundamental particle called atma which is characterized by consciousness. Till now the modern science has no exact proof of the origin of life (why and how ) and the further research on psychology and para psychology might give us a hint on it but we wont be able to understand the superior entity (Krshna).

Why should you read it !

As much as the reader will enjoy the debatable point of views that the author has as I did , also it gives an satisfactory answers to few of the questions which are still un answered and unexplainable to modern science . Even if someone is not aware of the Krshna consciousness or reincarnation the superior entity , this book is worth reding .Since in the current era we all are embedded with programmed for finding the answers to every questions still there can be restitution gained by knowing that some questions cant be answered .

Happy reading 😊