“Philosophy Discussions with Blaise Pascal”

Hayagriva: This is a section, a continuation of Pascal, Blaise Pascal. Pascal saw man situated in the universe between two extremes—between the abyss of infinity and the abyss of nothingness. Man has a body like the animals and an intellect like the angels or demigods. As such, he is neither a demigod nor an animal but somewhere between the two. Due to this situation, man is intelligent enough to know that he is in a miserable situation. Nonetheless, he has a great desire to be happy and to rid himself of his misery. Pascal saw that all men complain and suffer regardless of the situation. According to him, man engages in all kinds of hobbies and games and diversions in order to divert himself from his misery. But ultimately nothing really helps. What man once possessed and now has lost is perfect happiness. Pascal believes that the emptiness felt by man can only be filled by God. Isn’t…, is this the same as…

Prabhupada: Bhagavad-gita.

Hayagriva: Bhagavad-gita (laughs).

Prabhupada: Mudha janmani janmani mam aprapyaiva [Bg. 16.20]. Because he does not get under the shelter of Krsna, so life after life he is trying to be happy and he is becoming baffled. He is manufacturing new way of sporting—sometimes diving in the water, sometimes flying in the air. So this sporting, as soon as, according to his desire, God is supplying, “All right, you want to fly, you become a bird. You want to dive in the water, all right, you become a fish, big fish.” So God is giving you and trying to see whether giving up all this nonsense plan he comes to God and surrenders unto Him: “Sir, I have, I have tried all my plan; I could not become happy. Now, my Lord, you say that ‘You give up all this nonsense business, you surrender unto Me, I will make you happy.’ ” Then he becomes happy. For this message, God comes. Because this rascal will not do according to the desire of God; therefore God comes personally and teaches him—as Lord Ramacandra, as Lord Krsna, as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and He, They, He gives the same instruction, that “You surrender unto Me and act according to My instruction; you will be happy.” But he will not do that.

Hayagriva: Whereas Descartes stressed reason, Pascal says that the principles that are understood by the heart are absolutely certain and that they are certainly adequate to overcome all skepticism or doubt in God. Is this something like the Supersoul speaking in the heart? Or how can one be certain that it is the Supersoul?

Prabhupada: Yes, he is speaking. That is stated in the Bhagavad- gita, that buddhi-yogam dadami tam yena mam upayanti te: “I give him intelligence by which he can always live with Me,” upayanti. He is living along with… Every living entity is living with God. But out of his ignorance, he does not know. So what for the other bird is there? What He is doing? And He is living as witness. He is friend, that “What this nonsense is doing? He will suffer.” So He is finding out the opportunity how he will take instruction from the other bird, God. And He gives instruction. But to whom? When he surrenders, and he is engaged in this service, then He gives him instruction. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam, buddhi-yogam dadami [Bg. 10.10]. He gives. God is giving intelligence to everyone, but the nondevotee, he is not surrendered; he will not accept. The same example, when the thief goes to steal, God gives him that “Don’t do this. You will suffer,” and he knows that, that God says, He is speaking that “Don’t do this,” but still he does. So he suffers. But if he can purify and acts according to the instruction of God, then he is perfect. That is the difference between demon and devotee. Devotee strictly follows the order of God; he is happy. And demon, he also knows what is God’s desire; he disobeys, he acts according to his whim, he suffers. So God is giving instruction. There is no doubt about it. Externally He is giving instructions through His agent, spiritual master, through books; and internally as consciousness, conscience. He is giving, always, but the rascal will not accept. Then he must suffer. What can be done?

Full Discussion: http://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/philosophy/hayagriva/blaise_pascal

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