Overview
In this short essay, Manuṣya Ki? (What is a Human?) from Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Volume 2, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura demonstrates the futility of modern science in understanding the subtle body and the spiritual body.
by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
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How this question is answered by materialistic people, who have turned their faces away from the Lord, is indicated by the words found in the philosophy of a proud western scholar. He said that a human being is 1 pound of carbon, 2 pounds of lime, 20 ounces of phosphorus, 1 ounce of iron, potassium, magnesium, silicon, 5000 cubic feet of oxygen, 1000 cubic feet of hydrogen and 52 cubic feet of nitrogen gas, which are mixed together in a decorated form.
It is a pity that the aforementioned mundane scholar only saw the gross part of the body and nothing else. He simply concentrated upon those substances that comprise the human body. In addition, there is a liṅga-svarūpa – a subtle body of mind, intelligence and false ego. Again, apart from those two, there is another tattva known as the spiritual body. Since the respected speaker, while weighing the human being, could not find anything apart from the gross body, he did not accept the mind and soul as being included in a human being’s basic existence. Alas, the advancement of such materialistic science is the cause of our total destruction.
(‘Manuṣya Ki? – What is a Human?’ by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Volume 2 and translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri)
More Articles by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
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Śrī Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī Prabhu was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.2 issue 12 in 1885. Before giving a brief biography of Jīva Gosvāmī, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura discusses the title 'Prabhu' and who should use it. In this biography, the Thakura gives a list of Śrī Jīva's works and mentions his influence on Vallabhācārya.
‘Hindu’
This article, 'Hindu' was written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1874 for the Ananda Bazar Patrika newspaper. Bhaktivinoda discusses the origins of the word 'Hindu' and explains why it was not used in the Vedas, Purāṇas etc.
Salve for the Eyes of the Blind (Andhera Cakṣe Añjana)
Andhera Cakṣe Añjana (Salve for the Eyes of the Blind) was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇī, Vol.8 issue 12 in 1897. In this short article, Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains the historicity of the name of Māyāpura. Some scholars opine that the name only became known as Māyāpura during the time of the Sena Dynasty, whereas Bhaktivinoda claims that it was known as Māyāpura since time immemorial.
On 18th August 2012, on the occasion of his Vyāsa Pūjā, Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja announced to the devotees that he had a strong desire to create a website called “Bhaktivinoda Institute” in honour of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and his teachings in order to preserve and propagate them. 
