Answer
You are saying that we take knowledge from the Vedic literatures—we quote the Vedas, Krishna, the Bhagavad Gita, the Srimad Bhagavatam, and so on. But let us think a little more carefully: what is the alternative? If we do not take knowledge from the Vedic literatures, then from where will we take it? The only other option is human intelligence—either individually or collectively. That means relying on logic and reason as processed by the mind and intellect. When someone says, “I want to depend only on reason,” they are choosing a particular source of knowledge. But we must recognize that this source is limited. The human mind and intelligence are not infinite; they have boundaries and cannot comprehend everything.
So if we depend solely on reason and logic, we are depending on something inherently limited. There are many realities that lie beyond the scope of human perception, analysis, and understanding. On the other hand, when we take knowledge from the Vedic literatures—as received through the spiritual master and the ācāryas—we are accessing a different source of knowledge. So the choice is essentially this: either depend on revealed knowledge, or depend on human speculation—your own thinking, someone else’s thinking, or even the accumulated thinking of many people over time. But even collective human knowledge has limitations, because it ultimately relies on the same instrument—the human brain. And the brain, being a material mechanism, has its constraints.
Consider a simple example. Suppose you bring a dog and try to explain to it the constitution of a country—how elections work, how a prime minister is chosen every five years, and how governance functions. No matter how clearly you explain, the dog cannot understand. It may have a brain and nervous system somewhat similar in structure, but it lacks the capacity to grasp such concepts. In the same way, it is quite possible that there are realities beyond the capacity of the human brain and nervous system to comprehend. So when we say, “This is logical” or “This is reasonable,” we must remember that our logic operates within limits.
Therefore, whether individually or collectively, human reason has boundaries. Recognizing these limitations, we turn to the Vedic literatures as a higher and more complete source of knowledge.
