This is one of the better presentations of it's kind I've heard at the near-mainstream level (YouTube being that channel). I have studied Vedic material under the spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. From what I've gathered from studying or reviewing other so-called knowledge systems; they are incomplete. Vedic knowledge is complete. Now how can I say that when I've only scratched the surface? Because it doesn't take long to see that Vedic knowledge covers all the basics, but in no time at all - even within an hour of looking into it - the intelligent enquirer can immediately sense that Vedic knowledge actually takes off where conventional knowledge ends...and I include theoretical physics, metaphysics, etc. One key aspect for proof is consciousness. We know it's real because we have it. But it is not something that any school teaches. Not a single one. But consciousness, according to Vedic principle is the superior energy, while matter is the inferior energy. Without consciousness in the body, the body is lifeless. That is because the inferior energy is dependent on the superior energy. The superior energy of consciousness with the scientist is use to manipulate matter - to create things. If we apply the scientific method we see that it is always consciousness behind creation, not unconscious matter. It is never otherwise. Is not not? So modern knowledge is severely lacking.
So Vedic knowledge teaches that science that cannot understand what consciousness is cannot be accepted as superior.
One must be open, however. One must be sincere. One must have the strong sense that this common "no one knows" phrase is weak, if not completely false. For those whose intelligence cannot sense that the absolute truth must be real - for those who think that truth isn't any more real than opinion - then they cannot enter into the esoteric knowledge of the Vedas. As it is said in the Bible, "seek and ye shall find". One knows if they are truly seeking or not, and while they can fool others, they cannot fool themselves. And what use is their intelligence if they can fool themselves?
Of course those who haven't studied the Vedas (or any discipline), cannot know how advanced it is apart from hearing about it from someone who does. They would have to verify it for themselves by studying it to be sure - to "know" for themselves; wouldn't they? Otherwise what one has is...well, nothing at all. One doesn't even have an opinion on the matter. Right?
Spirituality is real - it's not some made-up thing. Of course, many like to make things up - possibly the majority from time to time. Theory. Opinion. Etc. To be an expert in anything requires the highest level of education. PhD; what's higher? Experience and further analysis under the proper methodology as learned in school, to be sure, but experience that is not contrary to the science has value.
Srila Prabhupada always taught that science without religion is speculation ("we have a theory, but there's a missing link") and religion without science is sentiment ("I believe"). There must be a program - call it an experiment if you like - to verify the belief. Seeing is believing. That is why Vedic knowledge is logical. The word "veda", which means "knowledge", comes from the root word "vid", which means to "see". That's where the word "video" came from, despite whatever the dictionary says. Seeing is believing, isn't it? If God is real and the Ultimate, by eliminating him in science is unscientific. It will never lead to the truth, for God is the Absolute Truth. Everything emanates from him. He is the cause and the origin and knower of all. The scientific alternative to God is the invisible nothingness from which everything came - in a random explosion the chances of which are one in trillions. And how can we even measure the chance if we didn't have the failed trials to benchmark against? When did science ever put nothing into a beaker trillions of times and wait for something to happen that created anything of a self-sustaining and ever-expanding order, which includes all the laws of physics and all matter? I'd say that science is nothing more than a farcical alternative that only fools people without a solid foundation in logics and knowledge. Of course, I'm only speaking of theoretical science, not the applied sciences. (wait until you look into that comedic dichotomy of the applied scientists vs the theoretical scientists).
The highest knowledge is the interdependence of science and religion - or between matter and spiritual knowledge. The separation of the two is the act of atheism. And aren't atheists fond of saying, "I'm a good person"? The truly good person does not proclaim his goodness, for he knows that he nevertheless has flaws. He also knows that God is the reservoir of goodness, and by his mercy alone can we move towards pure goodness. And if someone doesn't care about purity, then they cannot claim to care about perfection. And isn't science supposed to be perfect? If not, then it is incomplete. If we all have a soul, and the body without the soul is dead matter only, then the most important thing is the soul. Spirit. And spirit is pure. Holy. Is it not? So how is modern empirical science complete if purity is the basis? It will never be complete...at least in our lifetimes, right? So think about what philosophy you will need if you want to learn the absolute truth in your lifetime.
Here's a simple marker to help you know which side of the fence you are, and maybe which side you should consider. If you do not want to believe or accept that God is real - and let's say for arguments sake there is no God, then nothing really matters but this life of matter. Whatever ultimate knowledge you may want to learn will be foreshadowed by the track record of humanity; it's not likely that your knowledge and happiness will be complete at deaths doorstep.
For you, your existence was naught before birth and will be naught after death. So you will not care for legacy because you will be not be there to enjoy it. You will therefore shun the concept of happiness as something that comes from within (like the soul) and thus you will have no choice to find it without, via the senses and the flesh. Things and ideas (like 'I am the best', 'I know') will matter most to you, and you will care not to consider how fleetingly temporary all the things and ideas are. This ultimately means that morality will be nothing more than a false presentation. Your opinion will matter most.
Another angle. If you care not to accept God as the highest authority - but he's real - the one and only Original Scientist and supreme 'time-traveller' without a second - then all your studies will still be for naught. Why? Because you will refuse to accept that the human mind is limited and is inferior to the Supreme mind. You will thus have no choice but to count on your own intellectual powers and interpretations of reality - your opinions - thinking that your interpretations are as good (if not better) than anyone's. This is foolishness. Therefore you will have no choice to hold true to the idea - a sort of 'faith' - that humans are the greatest force of consciousness in the universe, there is no life outside of this tiny planet, and that all great the human minds, with the help of the time factor, will finally discover what makes reality work. Of course, the next question is, "why is reality the way it is?" You will not consider truly what the ultimate purpose of science is; should it not help realize full beauty and freedom in life for all?
If one fails to see that, despite our so-called advances over centuries, we have not come even close to the ultimate truth, he will tow the company line forever unable to think critically only to seek fame, wealth, beauty (by purchasing it if it must be so), knowledge and strength by whatever means possible.
Sadly, science today, and thus our culture of hope, presents us with an alternative idea that denies God and the reality that the truth is already known by someone else that can be had in this lifetime. Science simply holds to the concept that the future holds all the answers, nothing more. The idea that past and present may be a mystery today, but that the future will not be so is nothing more than a guess - an unproven unscientific speculation. It's idea of a kind of faith, but it holds no ground in real science. It is what's called as 'scientism' - a faith that science and math and hard cold facts of gross matter (space and time being a subtle form of matter) are all there ever was and ever will be - after the nothingness exploded, that is.
But the scientists are fools! Why? Because their very idea of the universe is that it began from nothing. And this nothingness exploded. They cannot define the nothing, and they refuse to accept that just as nothing comes from nothing, something comes from something. They cannot and will not accept that there was originally something of greater power behind the universe that is invisible to their conception of reality. This is their eternal flaw.
So we should not be blinded by the idea creationists to accept that only in the future is where happiness, peace and knowledge lies. It is here. Now.
Much of what we learn today we can find in the Vedas, but what can be found in the Vedas may not necessarily be found elsewhere.
The Vedas, from what I've learned, are the only knowledge system that serves to contextualize all knowledge. Basically, it is the key that makes sense of everything.
When we place God at the center and learn from his authorities, not man's authorities, then all mysteries will be understood... And even if they remain a mystery for one, we can accept that still God knows..
And if we can please the Supreme Boss, he will duly inform us.
