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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‘Brāhmo Dharma Prakṛta Unnati' (Genuine improvement within Brahmo Dharma) was first published by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in Sajjana Toṣaṇī Vol.2. issue 3 in 1885. In this article, the Ṭhākura rejoices in the news that the ācārya of the Brāhmos (a sect of impersonalists in Kolkata founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy) is favouring the concept of prema over jñāna.
Sad-guṇa and Bhakti
Sad-guṇa and Bhakti was first published in 1893, in Volume 5 of Sajjana Toṣaṇī, this article describes the many auspicious qualities found in the personality of a Vaiṣṇava, and Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura points out how all such qualities naturally appear wherever bhakti is found.
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Praśnottara (A Question and Answer Concerning Śrī Kṛṣṇa Saṁhitā) is an undated article by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura which was republished in the 18th volume of the Gauḍīya Magazine in 1939. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura answers a question concerning the Bhāgavatam’s narration of kṛṣṇa-līlā, as found in his work, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Saṁhitā.
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. 
