The Tool of Laws

Another angle to the notion that "things just exist" is to say that "laws just exist" and that laws explain the order and intricacy found in nature.

When we pluck a stretched wire, it produces a sound. The pitch of the sound depends on the length of the wire. All this is governed by laws. But to say that laws explain rhythmic melodious music is naive. And to say that chance brings together laws to create music is a humongous leap of faith unacceptable to a logical and honest mind.

It requires intelligence to pluck the strings at the correct places at the correct moments to create well-designed music. Similarly merely laws do not explain the order and intricacy found in nature; intelligence does.

The universe is not governed by the rule of laws brought together by chance; it's governed by an intelligent being expertly wielding the tool of laws.

The Basis of all Existence

Creation, with all its orderly systems and intriguing intricacies reasonably points to an intelligent creator. To avoid acknowledging an intelligent creator, some scientists, philosophers, and even spiritualists propagate many imaginative theories. One of them states that nothing was created, everything just exists.

Even this attempt of keeping intelligence at bay fails. Because intelligence is a prominent feature of existence. Intelligence exists, and it controls other features of existence. For example, a dog is intelligent enough to circumvent uintelligent physical obstacles to  find the source of a scent. Similarly humans are intelligent enough to pick up an unintelligent instrument to pen down imaginative theories about how the pen originally came about.

If everything just exists, then intelligence also just exists; it's not a product of chance. Intelligence is a personality trait. If intelligence just exists, so does personality; personality is not a product of chance.

Personality is a manifestation of consciousness. Thus consciousness just exists. It's a fundamental feature of existence, not a product of chance. Since the posessor of consciousnesses can control unconscious objects and even other less powerful conscious elements, it's highly reasonable to argue that one supreme person exists who controls all else.

Yes, the Supreme Person exists without requiring anything else to explain his existence. The process of spiritual life is to discover that supreme person who, being most powerful, is the very basis of all existence.

Intelligence is a personality trait

Intelligence is a personality trait.

There are two ways to look at things. One is to say that there are no signs of intelligence in what we see; any indication of intelligence, no matter how strong, is merely coincidental - by chance. Another way is to acknowledge that chance cannot explain the indications of intelligence we see.

Energy does not have intelligence; energy in itself cannot create sustained order in a system. Intelligence controls energy. Chance cannot create laws, only intelligence can. Chance cannot even break laws; then how can it be a force superior to the intelligence that can create laws?

Intelligence is a personality trait. A person has intelligence.

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Inquisitive about what?

"Inquisitiveness is a sign of intelligence". Yes. However, while intelligent people (who know what is good for them) are inquisitive about essential things, others are inquisitive about unnecessary
things like scandals and gossip. One must carefully guard against falling into the trap of letting these things occupy our minds.

We should be inquisitive about the most essential things that are directly related to us (like "Who am I?") rather than things totally unrelated to us like "Who killed the cricket coach?".

Abhijit.

In Search of Truth!

Dear All,

Srila Prabhupada says "Inquisitiveness is the sign of intelligence." Who will disagree? Therefore, the most intelligent and scientific and logical minded person wants to understand everything from the basics. So, the most basic question is "Who am I?" Isn't it? Who will disagree? Or is the most basic question "Where will I get most salary?" Lets think about this.

Another example. Suppose you are lost in a forest. And you are wandering and wandering and are almost dead of anxiety! And now fortunately you come upon a village of people! So, whats the first question that you will ask? Will it be "Where is the nearest Cinema Theater?" or will it be "Where am I?" Just think about this.

So, there are some basic questions whose answers are most important to an intelligent person. That's because the intelligent person understands that his well-being is based on the answers to
these essential questions! And that is why that person is called intelligent. He who knows what his well being is in.

Therefore, we must all strive to search for the answers to the most essential questions of existence. Only when we understand the answer to "Who am I?", will I be able to lead a life in such a way that I will become happy. Just like, suppose an old 80 year old poet starts thinking that "I am a Rugby player!" So, do you think he will be able to remain happy? Even if he firmly believe that he is a rugby player, he will not find a place in any team! And that will cause him misery.. because of not having any qualities of a rugby player, and yet thinking that he is a rugby player!

Similarly, if I start thinking (as the media is trying to force me to believe) that I am this body. That my existence will stop as soon as this body is dead.. Then I will start doing things as if I am the body. So, all my activities will be based on this assumption that I am this body. So, I'll protect my body, feed it, entertain it, and so on.. and the body will be all I know. But then, I will not be happy! Just as the old poet was not happy thinking of himself as a rugby player! Because he does not have any qualities of a rugby player. Similarly, my qualities are totally different from what I think they are. I think that I am the body, that will die one day and therefore, till I die, I should enjoy as much as possible. On the contrary, I am actually not the body, but the soul, which is actually eternal and will never die!! Therefore, because of pampering the body, and neglecting oneself (the soul), I (soul) can never be happy, no matter how much I take care of what I am not (the body).

Well, this is not very difficult to understand. However, the inquisitiveness must be there to know the truth. That is the sign of intelligence. If the inquisitiveness is there, then the Absolute
Truth (God) will guide you to the Truth!

Your servant, Abhijit.