Fw: [Sadhu Sanga] DIALOGUE ON LIFE AND ITS ORIGIN

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--- On Fri, 19/3/10, Dr. Sushen Krishna Das <jaga.suresh wrote:

 

 

Dr. Sushen Krishna Das <jaga.suresh

[sadhu Sanga] DIALOGUE ON LIFE AND ITS ORIGIN

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Friday, 19 March, 2010, 12:17 PM

 

 

 

DIALOGUE ON LIFE AND ITS ORIGIN

 

 

 

 

Professor Werner Arber (right), a Nobel Laureate and Emeritus Professor of

Molecular Biology at the University of Basel, Switzerland, greets Srila

Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja (Dr. T. D. Singh).

 

 

This is an excerpt of the dialogue between Professor Werner Arber and Srila

Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja (Dr. T. D. Singh) on October 12, 2001 at

University of Basel, Switzerland.

 

 

Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja (Dr. T. D. Singh): While looking into some

of the literatures, I find that some of your thoughts regarding life and its

origin are very interesting. Your view is different from most of the other

molecular biologists and evolutionary chemists. I have been waiting for an

opportunity to discuss with you some of the scientific and philosophical

questions about life and I feel very happy that we are meeting now.

 

First of all, molecular evolutionists[1] around the globe are trying very hard

to simulate the atmospheric chemical reactions in the hope of generating various

chemical steps going from simple to complex biomolecules in the laboratory. They

hope that this type of research may lead to the production of a primordial

living cell in the laboratory.

 

However, it seems to me that these studies may not be so necessary because we

already have the know-how and techniques to isolate practically all the

biomolecules from existing living bodies. Hence, we can start with these

ready-made biomolecules instead of starting from simpler molecules at immense

expense of time, manpower and finances. Somehow or the other if we can assemble

these biomolecules in a reaction flask it could be possible to tell, whether or

not life is a product of the combination of these biomolecules. Chemical

evolutionists often claim that given a cosmic time scale or a long time span,

life could generate spontaneously from the assembly of these molecules. However,

if we can find a super-catalyst or a super-enzyme, then the problem of a long

time span will be solved. That would be more reasonable than doing research on

how small molecules would become big molecules, for example, from amino acids to

protein molecules, which in turn

might or might not lead to the first primordial living cell. Scientists in this

field can design some research work on how to find some special enzymes[2] in

order to accelerate these chemical reactions. I would appreciate your opinion in

this regard.

 

Professor Werner Arber: Of course, we can accelerate the chemical reactions by

having appropriate enzymes. But the manifestation of life is much deeper than

that. For me, I think the mystery of life is still to conceive how these organic

molecules, which are already similar or equal to what we know today to represent

components of organic life, come together such that some living primordial cell

may become functioning. This, I don't understand. So, that is a difficult

problem. In addition, I think that life could be beyond the assembly of

biomolecules. For a number of years I had concentrated on exploring molecular

evolution, and I had also raised questions on the origin of life which is of

wide interest. But, I have given up trying to find answer to these latter

questions. I know how difficult it is. However, many scientists still think that

the properties of matter, organic molecules, are such that life could be a

probable event. I guess the question

is: how probable will that be?

 

 

" I think that life could be beyond the assembly of biomolecules. "

– Professor Werner Arber

 

 

Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja (Dr. T. D. Singh): It seems to me that we

cannot all agree even over the definition of life. Molecular evolutionists

define life as complex molecular reactions whereas spiritualists describe life

as a divine spark.

 

Professor Werner Arber: Yes. Well, this is not so easy.

 

Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja (Dr. T. D. Singh): If we take the

religious or spiritual viewpoint, especially the Vedic viewpoint, there are two

principles of reality, the material realm and the spiritual realm. Physics and

chemistry are within the first category whereas life belongs to the nonphysical

spiritual realm and it follows its own spiritual laws.

 

Professor Werner Arber: Oh, it is not so easily accessible. I don't know. I work

with microorganisms, mainly bacteria. I guess you generally believe in the

existence of a spiritual soul. With which organisms does that start? Is it

limited to human beings only?

 

Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja (Dr. T. D. Singh): Well, to answer your

first question, yes, I do believe in the existence of a non-chemical or

non-molecular spiritual soul. We all agree that the living bodies are made up of

organic matter, molecules. But according to the Vedic science, these bodies are

animated by the presence of the soul, just like the analogy of a car and the

driver inside. When the driver goes away, the car cannot move. Similarly, when

the spirit soul goes away, or what we call death, the body can no longer be

animated in spite of the fact that all the molecular machineries that make up

the body are still intact.

 

According to the spiritual paradigm contained in Vedanta, the seed of life, the

spiritual soul, has been existing since eternity and life manifests itself from

the very moment of conception at least in higher living beings, such as human

beings.

 

In Vedic cosmology, there are periodic cycles known as yuga cycles and creation

and annihilation of the material world along with living beings take place

continuously like changes of seasons. There are four yugas in each yuga cycle

namely, Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali and the seeds of life are injected by the

Supreme Lord into the womb of material nature. When the appropriate cosmic cycle

appears, many different biological forms manifest in that particular yuga cycle.

Also according to Vedanta, since all biological forms have already been existing

in subtle states, either manifested or unmanifested, embodied life on earth

would start, in principle, from any organism –bacteria, plants, birds,

animals, human beings, etc., according to the subtle laws of karma.[3] The word

karma is a Sanskrit word and it means the action – both psychological and

physical – performed by the living entity under the influence of the three

modes of material nature

(gunas).

 

Vedic cosmology or Vedantic cosmology supports the simultaneous manifestation of

many organisms. This principle is in direct contradiction with the Darwinian

paradigm. If the existence of the soul is recognized in Darwinian paradigm then

the spiritual paradigm of Vedanta could integrate the Darwinian paradigm. Thus

the missing element in neo-Darwinian paradigm or molecular biology is the

spiritual soul. However, in vedantic paradigm, consciousness evolves and the

biological forms are designed in such a way that each form can accommodate the

evolving conscious level of the living entity. This process is also known as the

transmigration of the soul.

 

So, according to the spiritual paradigm of Vedic science the presence of the

spirit soul is not limited to human beings only. However, we should note that

some religious traditions do not accept the existence of the soul and some

others proclaim that the soul is present in human beings only. The ancient Vedic

science of India does not accept such statements. Rather the Vedic science

states very firmly that all living entities have spirit souls.

 

 

" So, according to the spiritual paradigm of Vedic science the presence of the

spirit soul is not limited to human beings only. However, we should note that

some religious traditions do not accept the existence of the soul and some

others proclaim that the soul is present in human beings only. The ancient Vedic

science of India does not accept such statements. Rather the Vedic science

states very firmly that all living entities have spirit souls. "

 – Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja (Dr. T. D. Singh)

 

 

Professor Werner Arber: All living entities?

 

Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja (Dr. T. D. Singh): Yes, all living

entities including microorganisms.

 

Professor Werner Arber: That sounds quite interesting.

 

 

 

References:

 

 

 

 

[1] Molecular Evolutionists: Same as ‘chemical evolutionists’.

 

[2] Enzymes: A class of proteins serving as catalysts in biochemical reactions.

Each enzyme is specific to a particular reaction or group of similar reactions.

 

[3] Law of Karma states that every living entity has a predestined happiness and

distress in his/her present body according to the actions performed by the

living entity in his/her previous and present life.