'Experimental science is condemned' - Srila Prabhupada

Pusta Krsna: Is there a Vedic definition of science?

Prabhupada: Vijnana. Jnana-vijnana. [break] ...not this science, experimental. That is not science. Vedic knowledge is science.

Pusta Krsna: So there is no experimental science in Vedic culture.

Prabhupada: Experimental science is condemned. What you will make, ex... You are imperfect. What is the value of your experiment? Therefore it is rejected. Whatever you'll do, that is imperfect. First of all you become perfect; then you make experiment. But you are... You remain imperfect, and you making experiment. What is the value of it? [break] ...is no experimental knowledge. All established truth. That is vijnana, or science.

Pusta Krsna: Established truth.

Prabhupada: Yes. The sun rises on the eastern side; that is established truth. You cannot change it. And that is vijnana. Man dies. This is established truth. You cannot make any change by experimental knowledge. This is vijnana. Nrpa nirnita: "It is already settled." In the Vedic knowledge there is no such thing as laboratory or experiment, discovery, nothing.

Pusta Krsna: People blindly would accept that cow dung was purified without having to test it.

Prabhupada: Yes. But you make experiment; you will find it all right. So we save time. [break] ...no experiment. [break] ...experiment has become successful? Hm?

Pusta Krsna: Well, they've cured certain diseases by experimentation.

Prabhupada: That is success? You stop disease. What is this, "cure disease"? Malaria, if it is not here, it is somewhere there. And if I am not suffering from malaria, I am suffering from syphilis. So what is this cure, experiment? Disease must be there. So you stop it. Then it is success.

Pusta Krsna: So it is not possible to stop disease.

Prabhupada: No. How it is possible?

Pusta Krsna: Is it worthwhile to try to prolong life?

Prabhupada: It is also condemned. Prolonged life... Suppose you live hundred years and a tree lives five thousand years, ten thousand years. Then what is the use of prolonging life, life like this? Is that very good life?
Pusta Krsna: No.

Prabhupada: Standing in one place for ten thousand years? Why should you prolong your life? For suffering? You are suffering, that is your problem, so what is the use of prolonging your life? This is foolishness. What do you gain by prolonging life if you are suffering? Stop suffering. That is wanted. How you can stop suffering? With suffering, prolonging life, what is the benefit?

Pusta Krsna: Just means more, longer suffering.

Prabhupada: Yes. And even if you prolong life, how long you'll prolong? There are trees. They are thousand times prolonging than your life. In... What is called? San Francisco, the Golden...

Pusta Krsna: Redwood trees.

Prabhupada: Redwood trees. One redwood, already seven thousand years old, they told me. So what is the benefit, seven thousand years standing in one place, very long? Hm? What is the benefit? You are trying to prolong life. Very good idea. But what is the use of prolonging life while suffering? One side, you are trying to prolong life; the other side, for acute suffering, one is committing suicide. So why this contradictory proposal?

Harikesa: Well, only some people commit suicide. As far as I'm concerned, I'm very happy. I have my car, my air conditioner...

Prabhupada: That means you are fool number one. That means you are fool number one. As soon as you say, "I am happy," it is immediately proved that you are a rascal, fool number one.

Pusta Krsna: But everyone is afraid of death. They don't like the idea of dying. Put if off.

Prabhupada: Yes. So therefore, you cure that first of all; then prolong life that there will be no death. Then you prolong life is... Make some understand. Can go this side?

Harikesa: So it's not possible that anyone's happy? There is no possibility of anyone being happy.

Prabhupada: No. One who thinks he is happy, he is number one fool.

Pusta Krsna: Everyone is searching after material happiness.

Prabhupada: Yes. But there is no happiness.

(Morning Walk -- October 20, 1975, Johannesburg)