Marveling at the Wonders of Instinct

suchandra · September 15, 2007

There were recently 30 whooper swans observed which flew at a height of 30,000 feet on their way to Ireland. Why did they fly so high at a temperature of -40°C ? They could fly above snowstorms and used the strong jetstreams to travel with a speed of 130 miles per hour. In this way they covered the distance from Island to Ireland of 900 miles within 7 hours. The record holder of migratory birds, the artic tern overwinters at the Southpole but breeds at the Northpole. Each year this bird covers a distance of 30,000 – 40,000 miles. The stork travels by air every year 20,000 miles, overwintering in South Africa. How these birds always find back exactly at that place they were born?

"Observe intently the birds of heaven, because they do not sow seed or reap or gather into storehouses; still your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they are?" (Matthew 6:26)

There is much more that we can learn by carefully observing bird life. Krishna has created birds with marvelous instincts to land at the exact pin point where they were born after a flight from the South pole to the North pole and make perfect nests in which they can raise their offspring.

Pictured above is the nest of an African rock martin. It is built on the face of a rock or on the wall of a house. The roof of such nests is an overhanging rock or, as shown in this picture, the eaves of a building. The floor of the nest is made of tiny mud pellets stuck together in the shape of a cup. Both male and female work hard to collect mud pellets and may take over a month to complete their nest. Then they line it with grass and feathers. Both share in feeding their young. What appears below is the nest of a male masked weaver. This industrious African bird builds its nest using blades of grass or strips of other vegetation. It can complete a nest in one day and may weave more than 30 in one season!

If Lord Paramatma is directing and providing intelligence to all the animals, why are the human beings so much bewildered about the goal of life?

"Regarding your question of Paramatma: you are fortunate enough for your sincere service, Krishna as Paramatma Who is sitting within your heart is now dictating. Krishna is so kind that He wants to help us as Spiritual Master in two ways. He helps us from within as Caitya Guru and He expands Himself externally as Siksa Guru (as instructor) and diksa Guru (initiator). So the principle is that whatever you are instructed by the Caitya Guru internally may be confirmed by the instructor or initiator externally. Then your progress will be complete."

Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sivananda, 05-21-69

"Prabhupada: "Then so siksa and diksa-guru... A siksa-guru who instructs against the instruction of spiritual, he is not a siksa guru. He is a demon. Siksa-guru, diksa-guru means... Sometimes a diksa-guru is not present always. Therefore one can take learning, instruction, from an advanced devotee. That is called the siksa-guru. Siksa-guru does not mean he is speaking something against the teachings of the diksa-guru/Acarya. He is not a siksa-guru. He is a rascal."

Srila Prabhupada Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 17:1-3, 07-04-74, Honolulu

theist · September 17, 2007

SB 11.7.23 - Although I, the Supreme Lord, can never be captured by ordinary sense perception, those situated in human life may use their intelligence and other faculties of perception to directly search for Me through both apparent and indirectly ascertained symptoms.

Surely one with intelligence enhanced by the the grace of Supersoul can read the scripture as revealed in nature. How can we hear of such accounts as concerning the birds told above and not remember and be amazed by the workings of the Lord in all that is around us.

suchandra · September 17, 2007

Surely one with intelligence enhanced by the the grace of Supersoul can read the scripture as revealed in nature. How can we hear of such accounts as concerning the birds told above and not remember and be amazed by the workings of the Lord in all that is around us.

I think if all the Vaishnavas would use the internet in such a way as to cast a net of all the revelations of Krishna's wonderful intelligence how He set up this universe/nature so perfectly - the innocent non-believers could be waked-up in big style. It is not just that this material world functions perfectly, but actually for the searching souls to step by step finding out that everywhere is the signature of the Supreme Lord to be found - would gradually bring one to the state of love to Krishna, just by seeing these things, you start to see Krishna. Prabhupada gives the example of a mother who sees the little shoe of her child. She sees that shoe, but actually due her love for her child, she doesnt actually see the shoe but invisions her child.

theist · September 17, 2007

I think if all the Vaishnavas would use the internet in such a way as to cast a net of all the revelations of Krishna's wonderful intelligence how He set up this universe/nature so perfectly - the innocent non-believers could be waked-up in big style. It is not just that this material world functions perfectly, but actually for the searching souls to step by step finding out that everywhere is the signature of the Supreme Lord to be found - would gradually bring one to the state of love to Krishna, just by seeing these things, you start to see Krishna. Prabhupada gives the example of a mother who sees the little shoe of her child. She sees that shoe, but actually due her love for her child, she doesnt actually see the shoe but invisions her child.

Exactly. This is intelligent preaching that will bring tangible results in spreading Krsna consciousness.