Devotee (1): . . .possibility that there is a soul and that there is a God. But when . . . I showed them a Fifth Canto, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and they were reading about the structure of the universe in the Bhāgavatam, and this was completely opposite to all of their experiments. So if this is actually a fact, then why can't it be proved experimentally that the Bhāgavatam statements on the origin of the universe and so on are correct?
Prabhupāda: Hmm? It is correct. How they can prove it is incorrect?
Devotee (1): Well they say that by mathematics we can prove the position of the planets . . .
Prabhupāda: So we have got our mathematics also. (break) (in car) . . .workers. In the beginning I was alone. Now we have got so many things. So we shall come out triumphant.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: That's Prabhupāda's mercy.
Prabhupāda: Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: This professor of mine, he was very much against at the beginning of the theory. Then, when I gave this lecture, he invited me for home, in his home, and his wife supported our theory, so he came around, saying that "Yes, science says earth is only 4.5 billion years old. And there are so many defects." So they have to accept that "No, we cannot be correct." So people are coming around slowly.
Prabhupāda: Yes. (break) . . .Kavirāja Gosvāmī says, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya-dayā karaha vicāra, vicāra karile citte pābe camatkāra (CC Adi 8.15): "Just see what kind of merciful is Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu. And if you consider it perfectly, you'll see it it wonderful." Vicāra karile citte pābe camatkāra. "Oh, here is Caitanya." Caitanya. Caitanya means living force. He says vicāra. "Just try to understand by logic, by philosophy, by argument." That is vicāra. We are not following Caitanya Mahāprabhu blindly. That is not our position. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna argued with Kṛṣṇa in so many ways. At last he accepted, "Yes." Paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitram (BG 10.12): "You are the Supreme Person. The rascals, they do not understand Your personality, but Vyāsadeva, Nārada, Asita, Devala, they have accepted, and I also see. Therefore, whatever You say, I agree. That's all." This is experiment. Arjuna did not accept Kṛṣṇa blindly. He knew, but for our sake he gave so many arguments. At last, he accepted. So we have to follow Arjuna. (japa) (break)
Gurukṛpā: Great.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Gurukṛpā: He was great by admitting that he was also a thief, but a big one.
Prabhupāda: (laughs) Yes.
Gurukṛpā: So if the scientists admit that actually they are not right, that makes them great.
Prabhupāda: Yes, actually. He must be standing on truth. That is greatness. Because "To err is human." Anyone commits mistake. There is no doubt about it. But after committing mistake, if I stick to that mistake, that is foolishness. When it is detected that it is mistake, you must admit. That is greatness.