Empiricists have different interpretations about the transcendental holy words of the Supreme Being. But the real question is: can one gain knowledge of the Divine merely by the process of observation and experiment, which empiricism is all about? 

Tarkshastra or Yuktvidya translated into English means logic.There are two methods of attaining knowledge, which have their basis in logic or reasoning: the inductive method and deductive method. Whatever finite human beings with finite intellect may ascertain, whether inductive or deductive, is actually in the domain of the process of ascension, which is called Avarohavad. Induction refers to inferring of general law from particular instances, while deduction is inferring of a particular instance from a general law.

In His book Raj Vidya, Tridandi Swami Sri Srimad Bhaktivedant Swami Maharaj writes, “There are two processes for attaining knowledge: one is inductive and the other is deductive. The deductive method is considered to be more perfect. We may take a premise such as, ‘All men are mortal.’ and no one needs to discuss how man is mortal. It is generally accepted that this is the case. The deductive conclusion is: ‘Mr. Johnson is a man; therefore Mr. Johnson is mortal.’ But how is the premise that all men are mortal arrived at?”

Followers of the inductive method wish to arrive at this premise through experiment and observations. We may thus study that this man died and that man died, and after seeing that so many men have died we may conclude or generalise that all men are mortal, but there is a major defect in this inductive method and that is―our experience is limited. We may never have seen a man who is not mortal, but we are judging this on our personal experience, which is finite. Our senses have limited power, and there are so many defects in our conditioned state. The inductive process consequently is not always perfect, whereas the deductive process from a source of perfect knowledge is perfect. The Vedic process is such a process,” Maharaj Ji concludes.

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj

In India, we have had disciplic successions emanating from Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarka, Vishnu Swami and other sages. Vedic literature is understood through superior spiritual masters. Arjuna understood the Bhagavad Gita from Sri Krishna; and if we wish to understand it, we have to understand it from Arjuna, not from any other source. If we may have knowledge of the Gita, we have to see how it tallies with the understanding of Arjuna. If we understand the Gita in the same way that Arjuna did, we would know our understanding is correct.

This should be the criteria of our studying of the Gita. If we really want to benefit from the Gita, we have to follow this principle. The Gita is not an ordinary book of knowledge, which we can purchase from the market place, read and just refer to like a dictionary.

It is not difficult to appreciate the necessity of going through the disciplic succession to understand the Gita. If we wish to be a lawyer, an engineer, or a doctor, we need to receive knowledge from authoritative lawyers, engineers and doctors. Our knowledge of a subject cannot be useful, unless we receive it through authoritative sources. This has been acknowledged in the Gita.

“This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realisation, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed.” (BG 9:2)

Those who according to their respective eligibility have understood or realised the significance of the teachings of the scriptures and the teachings of great saints, may be broadly classified as Adhirohavadasrayi (Adhyakshik) and Avarohavadashrayi (Sharnagat). The first regards the method of ascension or empiricism, while the second regards the method of descent or the process of unconditional surrender.

The Supreme Lord is One as He is Absolute and Infinite. Everything is within Him and subservient to Him. He is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. He is Sacchidanand, meaning all-existence, all knowledge and all bliss. As He is the Cause of all causes and there is no cause of Him, He is self-effulgent. As per evidence of Svetasvatara Upanishad, the Supreme Lord is Asamordha―nothing is equal to Him or more than Him. Therefore, the only way of realising the Supreme Lord and His knowledge of the Gita or the Vedas is by His Grace.

Grace descends to a completely surrendered soul. As for example, the self-luminous Sun can only be seen through its rays. The teachings of authentic scriptures and the teachings of realised personal associates of the Supreme Lord can be understood by Their grace through revelation. Tridandi Swami Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj (Founder of ISKCON), said, “When one is enlightened with the knowledge by which ignorance is destroyed, then his knowledge reveals everything, as sun lights up everything in daytime.” 

So true, isn’t it?

Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj was President-Acharya of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math from 1979 till he left his physical body on April 21, 2017 at 92. For more than six decades, he preached the philosophy of universal unity, travelling the globe to spread his message of transcendental divine love, interacting with theologians of all faiths.