How is it that both theistic and atheistic scientists make major discoveries?

Shri Durgaprasad asked: Paadanamaskaaram Swami! Many great scientists have acknowledged God for the intuition and innovative ideas that they received during their research. They accept that, without God’s help, it was impossible for them to have come up with those ideas. On the other hand, we also see atheistic scientists getting some wonderful or sometimes, devastating ideas. How is this possible? At Your lotus feet. Durga Prasad.

Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! The discoveries made by scientists are inspired by the omniscient God for the sake of the welfare of the world. God’s ultimate aim is only to help the world. He has no interest in projecting Himself as the real source of the discovery. God is the ultimate source of the Veda, which is primary spiritual scripture. He is also the source of the Śāstra, which is the secondary scripture that enables the correct interpretation of the Veda. Finally, He is also the source of vijñānam or science (Vedāḥ śāstrāṇi vijñānam, etat sarvaṃ Janārdanāt). The scientist is only a medium to convey that discovery to the world. For God, it is immaterial whether the medium is a theist or an atheist. A theistic scientist recognizes the importance of God in his discovery, whereas an atheistic scientist does not recognize God at all. God is not bothered about receiving credit as the original source of the discovery. Einstein and Newton discovered very prominent concepts in science and acknowledged God as the source of their discoveries. But an atheist can also make discoveries. In fact, he can even become a Human Incarnation when he is fighting against injustice in an atheistic region. The atheist does not know that God entered into him to oppose the injustice. But God does not care for the credit and His aim is only to oppose the injustice and ensure the victory of justice.

Once a scientist was unable to solve a problem in his research and was so frustrated that he went into a forest to commit suicide. He was a strong devotee of Shri Satya Sai Baba. Shri Satya Sai appeared before him and suggested a new formula, which could solve that complicated problem. This incident is mentioned in the life history of Shri Satya Sai.

| Shri Dattaswami | Vedaah shastraani vijnaanam etat sarvam Janaardanaat Shastra