Tough Answers, part 3

 heyumapati  Hare Krishna  2024-09-13

调皮的奎师那拿着一块糖

Introduction
导⾔

July. Warm evening air. But nothing to write about. My mind was blank. Then I saw an article on Microsoft News (MSN).
七⽉。傍晚的空⽓温暖⽽宜⼈。但没有什么可写的。我的思绪⼀⽚空⽩。就在这时，我在微软新闻(MSN)上看到了⼀篇⽂章。

The title: “Nineteen Tough Questions Atheists Want to Ask People Who Believe in God.”
⽂章的标题是:“⽆神论者想向有神论者提出的⼗九个厉害的问题。”

But the questions were not so tough. After all, Lord Krishna is tougher than any atheist. And I needed a topic to write about anyway.
但这些问题其实并不那么难。毕竟，主奎师那⽐任何⽆神论者都更厉害。⽽且，⽆论如何我正好也需要⼀个写作的话题。

So I decided to answer the questions with the teachings of Hare Krishna. It will take more than one post, of course. But please bear with me and see if my “tough” answers to “tough” questions are not also logical.
于是，我决定⽤哈瑞奎师那的教导来回答这些问题。当然，这需要多篇⽂章才能完成。但是，请耐⼼听我说，看看我对这些“厉害的”问题的“厉害的”回答是否也符合逻辑。

Question 3. What About Contradictions in Holy Texts?
问题 3：圣典中的⽭盾作何解释？

While I sit in my armchair,  mulling over this question, I have to wonder, Have these so-called contradictions ever kept a determined seeker  from finding God? Even one case?
当我坐在扶⼿椅上，反复思索这个问题时，我不禁要问，这些所谓的⽭盾是否曾阻碍过任何⼀位决⼼坚定的探求者找到神呢？哪怕只有⼀例？

Later, as I stub my toe in the kitchen and drop a spoon, the thought strikes me:  Could it be that the  contradictions actually uphold the scriptures?
后来，我在厨房不⼩⼼踢到脚趾，还把勺⼦掉在地上，这时我突然想到：难道这些⽭盾实际上是在维护经典吗？

How can it be that so many people speak of the same visions, the same experiences? But the differences show that they could not have known each other, separated as they were by oceans and continents, by centuries and millenia of time. No question of a conspiracy.
为何会有如此多的⼈谈及相同的异象、相同的经历呢？但这些差异表明，他们不可能彼此相识，因为他们被海洋和⼤陆相隔，被⼏个世纪乃⾄数千年的时光所隔绝。不存在共谋的问题。

Sri Krishna came into this world as Lord Rama Chandra about a million years ago. The sage Sri Valmiki wrote down the life story of Lord Rama in the epic Ramayana. Lord Rama’s color was green like grass (Photo: Jishnu das)
大约一百万年前，奎师那化身为主茹阿玛·禅铎来到这个世界。圣人瓦尔米克伊(Valmiki)在史诗《茹阿玛亚那》（Ramayana，《罗摩衍那》）中记录了茹阿玛的生活经历。茹阿玛的颜色像草一样绿（照片：知识努·达斯）

Oh, but you think there was indeed a conspiracy. Right? Then please answer this question: If Sri Valmiki wrote the Ramayana about a million years ago and Jesus preached 2,000 years ago, where did they plan the conspiracy? Surely not on earth.
哦，但是你认为确实存在⼀场阴谋。对吧？那请回答这个问题：如果施瑞·⽡⽶克伊（Valmiki）⼤约在⼀百万年前写了《茹阿玛亚那》，⽽耶稣在两千年前传道，那他们是在哪⾥策划这场阴谋的呢？肯定不是在地球上吧。

They must have sat down together in another world a million years ago. And 800 thousand years later, Jesus, still very much alive, came to earth to preach. How else? And if Jesus could live for 800 thousand years, he must have known something. So your conspiracy theory also validates religion.
他们必定在⼀百万年前的另⼀个世界⾥坐在⼀起。⽽且⼋⼗万年后，耶稣依然健在，来到⼈间传道。不然还能怎样呢？
⽽且如果耶稣能活⼋⼗万年，他⼀定知道⼀些事情。所以你那阴谋论反倒也证实了宗教的合理性。

But, one may ask, if they have all seen the same Truth, why the inconsistencies?
但是，有⼈可能会问，既然他们都看到了同样的真理，为什么不⼀致呢？

Truth, it is said, is like a splendorous jewel. From one angle it appears red, from another angle, blue, from another, green. But  it is the same jewel.
据说，真理就像⼀颗璀璨的宝⽯。从⼀个⾓度看它是红⾊的，从另⼀个⾓度看它是蓝⾊的，再从另⼀个⾓度看则是绿⾊。但它仍然是同⼀颗宝⽯。

Srila Prabhupada sums it up:
施瑞拉·帕布帕德对此作了总结：

“Christ says,  ‘I am [the] son of God’ And Krishna says, ‘I am God.’ So Christ becomes His son. So where is the difference? (Dec 8, 1972)
“基督说，‘我是神的⼉⼦’，⽽奎师那说，‘我是神’。因此，基督变成了祂的⼉⼦。那么，两者之间有什么⽭盾呢？（1972 年 12 ⽉ 8 ⽇）”

Question 4. How Do You Reconcile Science and Faith?
问题 4：你是如何调和科学与信仰的？

I cannot speak for the others, but in Krishna Consciousness, science and faith are the same. No need for a reconciliation. The problem with modern science is that it ignores the spiritual side of existence.
我不能谈其他途径，但在奎师那知觉中，科学与信仰是相同的。不需要调和。现代科学的问题在于它忽视了存在的灵性层⾯。

Vedic science explains things that modern science knows nothing about. Karma for one. That’s why Bill Gates owns millions of acres and  I can barely pay my rent.   And why is Di Caprio handsome while I look like a wrung-out dish towel?
韦达科学解释了现代科学⼀⽆所知的⼀些事情。⽐如业报就是其⼀。这就是为什么⽐尔·盖茨坐拥数百万英亩的⼟地，⽽我却⼏乎付不起房租。还有，为什么迪卡普⾥奥那么英俊，⽽我却看起来像⼀条拧⼲的擦碗布？

You really think it’s mere chance? No other reason? But there’s so much order in the universe—heredity, the passing of the seasons, the orbits of the stars. And you say it’s all chance.
你真的认为这仅仅是偶然吗？没有别的原因了吗？但宇宙中有着如此多的秩序存在——遗传、季节的更替、星⾠的运⾏轨道。⽽你却说这⼀切都是偶然。

What about reincarnation? Is Elvis still singing in some other world? Am I saying there is a science that can help me look like Di Caprio and sing like Elvis next time? Well, it worked for them. Why not for me?
那轮回转世呢？猫王还在其他世界⾥唱歌吗？我是说有⼀种科学能帮助我在下次看起来像迪卡普⾥奥、唱歌像猫王吗？这对他们来说确实有效。为什么不能对我起作⽤呢？

Why do I believe it?  What is the proof?
我为什么会相信它？证据又是什么呢？

Srila Prabhupada comments:
施瑞拉·帕布帕德评论说：

“You may say [to me] ‘You have not practically experimented,’ but what have  [you yourself] experimented? You also hear from others. You believe that they have gone to [the] moon planet. You have not gone.
你可能会[对我]说，‘你没有实际经验。’可是你自己又有什么经验呢？你也是听别人说的。你相信他们去了月球。你自己并没有去过。

You have heard from somebody in the newspaper, that’s all. That is your authority. So if you can believe in the newspaper, then [why can’t] I believe in the sastras [scriptures]?
你只是从报纸上听到过，仅此⽽已。这就是你的权威。所以如果你能相信报纸，那我[为什么不能]相信萨斯卓[经典]呢？

“But wait,” you say. “Modern science has done wonderful things. Look at computers and space ships and airplanes.
“但是且慢，”你说，“现代科学已经取得了惊⼈的成就。看看电脑、宇宙飞船和飞机吧。”

All right, So Edison  invented the light bulb, but does that mean he knew the secret of life? Has Einstein brought happiness to humanity? Look at the shape the world is in: wars, poverty, starvation.
好吧，爱迪⽣发明了电灯泡，但这是否意味着他知道⽣命的奥秘呢？爱因斯坦为⼈类带来了幸福吗？看看这个世界的现状：战争、贫困、饥饿。

But if I doubt the science of today, why do I like the science of the Vedas? Well, ask the people who follow it. They say that seeing the world from the Vedic viewpoint brings peace and happiness to the individual. Isn’t that what science is supposed to do?
但是如果我质疑当今的科学，为什么我青睐韦达的科学呢？去问问那些追随韦达科学的⼈吧。他们说从韦达的⾓度来看待世界能给个⼈带来平和与幸福。难道这不是科学本该做的吗？

Want proof? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
想要证据吗？实践出真知。

See also my post “Who Carved the Grand Canyon?”
您也可以参考我的另⼀篇⽂章《是谁雕凿了⼤峡⾕？》。

Question 5. Why are there so  many religions?
问题 5：为何会有如此多的宗教？

I cannot speak for religions invented by earthly humans for material purposes like bodily health or mental clarity. My specialty lies elsewhere.
我不能为那些由世俗之⼈出于诸如⾝体健康或精神清晰等物质⽬的⽽创造的宗教代⾔。我的专长在其他⽅⾯。

I will speak of those religions that aim to bring the practitioner in touch with God and ultimately to eternal life in the spiritual kingdom.
我会谈论那些旨在使实修者与神建⽴联系并最终通往灵性王国永恒⽣活的宗教。

These religions fall basically into five groups: Christianity, Buddhism, Islam,  Judaism, and Krishna Consciousness (Vaishnavism).
这些宗教基本上可以分为五类：基督教、佛教、伊斯兰教、犹太教和奎师那知觉（外⼠纳⽡主义）。

Each group is divided into smaller groups like Catholicism and Protestantism. Hinduism is a sub-category of Krishna Consciousness. And these are divided into even smaller groups.
每个群体又被细分为不同的⼩群体，⽐如天主教和基督教。印度教是奎师那知觉的⼀个⼦类别。这些⼩群体又被进⼀步细分。

Thus the question of why so many or at least why the different categories?
那么问题来了，为什么会有这么多或者⾄少为什么会有不同的分类？

There is a reason. Krishna has come himself or sent his servants to preach in different ways in different places at different times so that people of different mentalities—Arabs, Germans, Africans— can find their path. Such is the kindness of Krishna.
是有原因的。奎师那亲⾃或派祂的仆⼈以不同的⽅式在不同的地⽅、不同的时间传教，以便不同智⼒的⼈——阿拉伯⼈、德国⼈、⾮洲⼈——能找到⾃⼰的道路。这就是奎师那的仁慈。

But in all these religions there is a common thread: one must turn away from the temporary pleasures of the material world to find the eternal happiness of the spiritual kingdom. Isn’t it so?
但在所有这些宗教中都有⼀条共同的主线：⼈们必须远离物质世界的短暂快乐，才能找到灵性王国的永恒快乐。难道不是这样吗？

The Bible says:
《圣经》说：

“So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
“所以，我们当脱去暗昧的⾏为，带上光明的盔甲。⾏事为⼈要端正，好像⾏在⽩昼；不可荒宴醉酒，不可好⾊邪荡，不可争竞嫉妒。”

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. Romans (13:12-14)
“总要披戴主耶稣基督，不要为⾁体安排，去放纵私欲。”（《罗马书》13 章 12 – 14 节）

Jesus Christ: “[Let] little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14)
耶稣基督说：“让小孩子们到我这里来，不要禁止他们，因为在天国的正是属于这样的人。”（《马太福音》19 章 14 节）

I didn’t want this. And in my hippie days, I rejected Christianity and my own Judaism in favor of a life of sensuality. Then I heard other hippies praise Eastern religions. So I thought that Buddhism and Hinduism must encourage illicit sex and intoxication. Otherwise, why would hippies like them?
我并不想要这样。在我嬉⽪⼠的年代，我抛弃了基督教和犹太教，选择了⼀种感官享乐的⽣活⽅式。后来，我听到其他嬉⽪⼠称赞东⽅宗教。于是，我认为佛教和印度教⼀定⿎励⾮法性⾏为和⿇醉品。否则，为什么嬉⽪⼠会喜欢它们呢？

My eyebrows arched when I opened the Eastern books and saw that they also rejected sensuality, and  strongly, like the Western ones.
当我翻开东⽅书籍，看到它们也同样排斥感官享乐，⽽且与西⽅书籍⼀样强烈时，我不禁扬起了眉⽑。

Sri Krishna says:
奎师那说：

“An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with the material senses. O son of Kunti, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise man does not delight in them. (5.22)
痛苦来⾃与物质感官的接触，明智的⼈不会参与那些痛苦之源。琨缇之⼦啊，这样的快乐都有始有终，因此智者不会以此为乐。（5.22）

As Srila Prabhupada said in a lecture:
正如施瑞拉·帕布帕德在⼀次演讲中所说：

“No one says, ‘Be happy here.’ (quoted from memory)
“没有⼈会说，‘在这⾥得到快乐。’（引⾃记忆）”

Again, how did people of different places and different eras preach a common principal? What knowledge did they all share?
又或者，来⾃不同地⽅、不同时代的⼈们是如何宣扬共同的原则的？他们都分享了哪些知识呢？

Again, the diversity upholds the validity.
再次，多样性是真实性的证明。

⁓Umapati Swami, September 14, 2024
乌玛帕提·斯⽡⽶，2024 年 9 ⽉ 14 ⽇

Eternally touching my head to the floor at the lotus feet of my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, for showing me this.
永远顶拜我的灵性导师施瑞拉·帕布帕德，感谢他向我展⽰这⼀切。

Notes:
注：

The Hare Krishna Mantra: Haré Krishna, Haré Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Haré Haré / Haré Rama, Haré Rama, Rama Rama, Haré Haré.
哈瑞奎师那·曼陀罗：哈瑞奎师那，哈瑞奎师那，奎师那奎师那，哈瑞哈瑞 / 哈瑞茹阿玛，哈瑞茹阿玛，茹阿玛茹阿玛，哈瑞哈瑞。

The opinions expressed in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of any organization or any other person.
本⽂所表达的观点仅代表我个⼈，并不⼀定反映任何组织或任何其他⼈的观点。

Scriptural passages © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

Photo top: Naughty Krishna holding a piece of candy (Jishnu Das)

Love it? Hate it? Got a question? Write to me: hoswami@yahoo.com

© Umapati Swami 2024

Srila Prabhupada

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is the teacher who brought Krishna Consciousness from India to the West and then to the rest of the world. He is the founder of the worldwide Hare Krishna Movement as well as the author and compiler of many works of Vedic knowledge. He left this world in 1977.

Umapati Swami

One of the first American devotees of the Hare Krishna Movement, he became Srila Prabhupada’s disciple in 1966. Since then, he has preached Krishna Consciousness in many countries and is the author of “My Days with Prabhupada,” available from Amazon. Now 87 years old, he maintains this blog to share what he has learned.