The difficulty of modern age is . . . not modern age, it is also old system, because in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam we find one verse which says, tarko apratiṣṭhaḥ (CC Madhya 25.57, Mahābhārata, Vana-parva 313.117). "Simple arguments and logic will not carry you to the Absolute Truth." Tarkaḥ. Tarkaḥ means arguments. You may be very good logician, you can argue very nicely, but another logician may come and defeat you. That is going on. New philosopher, new logician, new thinker means he defeats his previous thinkers, logicians, and philosophers, and becomes prominent.
That is the materialistic way of gaining name, fame and popularity. But our process is different. Tarko 'pratiṣṭhaḥ. We accept that simply by arguments and logic, it is not possible to approach the Absolute Truth. Absolute Truth is not subjected to our deficient logic and argument.
So tarko 'pratiṣṭhaḥ śrutayo vibhinnā (CC Madhya 25.57, Mahābhārata, Vana-parva 313.117). If somebody says that "Well, argument and logic is not the way to approach the Absolute Truth. Then let us take scriptures, the authority of the scriptures," that is also very nice. In every human society there is some sort of scripture. Just like in your country there is Bible or any other scripture. We have got Vedas.
The Muhammadans, they have got Korans. They can help also, because that is also authority. But you will find that one scripture is differing from the other scripture in some details. Of course, on the average there is no difference. Just like Bible preaches, Lord Jesus Christ preaches love of God, we are also preaching the same thing, love of God. But our process is little different. That's all. That process may be different according to time, circumstances, people. That is natural.
Therefore, for a neophyte, simply by consulting scriptures, he will not be able to reach to the absolute goal. Because he'll find, "Oh . . ." Sometimes they become skeptic. Just like in the modern age, the youngsters, you all boys and girls, they are becoming skeptic. They don't believe in any scripture now, because they find some differences.
Therefore Bhāgavata said that tarko 'pratiṣṭhaḥ śrutayo vibhinnā (CC Madhya 25.57, Mahābhārata, Vana-parva 313.117): "Simply by argument you cannot establish what is Absolute Truth, and if you consult different scriptures, you will find difference of opinion, or difference of procedures, rituals."
So śrutayo vibhinnā nāsāv munir yasya mataṁ na bhinnam. And if we consult great thinkers or philosophers, they have got their different opinion also. Some philosopher says: "I think this is right," "I think this is right." So whom you will accept? They are also of difference opinion. Tarko 'pratiṣṭhaḥ śrutayo vibhinnā nāsāv munir yasya mataṁ na bhinnam (CC Madhya 25.57, Mahābhārata, Vana-parva 313.117).
You won't find a single philosopher whose opinion is not different from the previous philosopher, or muni. Muni means thinker, thoughtful man, muni, from "mind." Nāsāv munir yasya mataṁ na bhinnam, dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyām.
Therefore to understand the Absolute Truth, it is very difficult to find out how to have it. But the only one way recommended in the Vedic scripture, that mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ (CC Madhya 17.186). Mahājana. Mahājana means great personality. Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ. That is the real path, if you follow the great personality. Now, there is a difference of great personalities also. You think that he is great personality, he thinks another great personality. But there is a definition of great personality.