The process of evolution through these 8,400,000 species of life has been going on since time immemorial.

Search for the Missing Link is missing the point

The Incomplete and Speculative Knowledge of Darwin's Theory of Evolution

Before Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution in 1859, he frequently corresponded with A.R. Wallace, one of his contemporary naturalists. In one of his letters to A.R. Wallace (December 22, 1857), Darwin wrote, "... I am a firm believer that without speculation there is no good and original observation....'[1] Thus, one does not need to make an extensive study in order to understand his theory. His theory was completely based on his own speculation and mental manipulation, based on some data collected during his "Voyage of the Beagle" (1831-1836). Every sensible person knows that speculative knowledge is quite fallible.

How his theory was developed is given in his own words:

"When onboard H.M.S. Beagle as naturalist, I was much struck with certain facts in the distribution of the organic beings inhabiting South America, and in the geological relations of the present to the past inhabitants of that continent. These facts ... seemed to throw some light on the origin of species, that mystery of mysteries. On my return home, it occurred to me, in 1837, that something might perhaps be made out on this question by patiently accumulating and reflecting on all sorts of facts which could possibly have any bearing on it. After five years work I allowed myself to speculate on the subject, and drew up some short notes; these I enlarged in 1844 into a sketch of the conclusions, which seemed to me probable: from that period to the present day I have steadily pursued the same object. In considering the Origin of Species, it is quite conceivable that a naturalist might come to the conclusion that species had not been independently created, but had descended, like varieties from other species."[2]

Darwin has no knowledge about the nature of the spirit soul. He has no clear information as to how the living entity (spirit soul) is transmigrating from one species to another. He does not know whether there is further evolution from the human platform, and he hasn't the slightest idea as to the total number of species through which the cycle of evolution goes on. He also has no information whether the spirit soul can transmigrate from the human platform to lower species of life.

There has been great confusion regarding Darwin's Theory. His critics are very legitimately asking, "If the theory of natural selection of Darwin is correct, why can't we see the intermediate forms of species, the connecting links?" Darwin himself was completely confused in this respect. He could not provide any logical answer except his speculative argumentation. His own answer was that "extinction and natural selection will ... go hand in hand."[3] He did not know that all the species of life have been existing since the dawn of creation. "The different species of life are created immediately along with the universe. Men, animals, beasts, birds-everything is simultaneously created, because whatever desires the living entities had at the last annihilation are again manifested."[4] As a crude example, the species portrayed in the ancient Egyptian pyramids were the same as those we meet at the present day. Similarly, since time immemorial the peacock, whose colorful feathers so nicely decorate the transcendental head of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna, has been the same as the species we find today. With his poor fund of knowledge, Darwin concluded that some species became extinct in the process of evolution. This is completely wrong.

Complete and Perfect Knowledge of Evolution

Complete and perfect knowledge of evolution in minute detail is available in the Vedic literatures. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada has kindly supplied the following Vedic quotations:

ashitim chaturash chaiva lakshams tañ jiva-jatishu
bhramadbhih purushaih prapyam manushyam janma-paryayat
tad apy abhalatam jatah tesham atmabhimaninam
varakanam anashritya govinda-charana-dvayam

"One attains the human form of life after transmigrating through 8,400,000 species of life by the process of gradual evolution. That human form of life is spoiled for those conceited fools who do not take shelter of the lotus feet of Govinda [Krishna].'' [Brahma-vaivarta Purana]

jalaja nava-lakshani sthavara laksha-vimshati
krimayo rudra-sankhyakah pakshinam dasha-lakshanam
trimshal-lakshani pashavah chatur-lakshani manushah

"There are 900,000 species of aquatic life; 2,000,000 species of plants and trees; 1,100,000 species of insects; 1,000,000 species of bird life; 3,000,000 species of beasts, and 400,000 species of human life." [Padma Purana]

The meaning of "species" understood by biologists is different from the meaning implied here. The meaning used by biologists applies to the gross physical appearance or the gross morphological feature of the living material bodies. The Vedic meaning, however, which is derived after thorough and careful analysis, is based on the level of consciousness of the living being. For example, biologists say that all human beings belong to one species, whereas the Vedic literatures list 400,000 species. In other words, there are 400,000 grades of human beings on different levels of consciousness.

The process of evolution through these 8,400,000 species of life has been going on since time immemorial. As we noted earlier, the spirit soul never dies and is never born; it is eternal. It transmigrates from one body to another. Lord Sri Krishna, the supreme knower of everything, says: "As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, similarly, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones." [Bhagavad-gita 2.22] In this way the transmigration of the soul is going on.

As we noted from Brahma-vaivarta Purana, the most important species of life is the human being. The Vedanta-sutra instructs, athato brahma-jijñasa: "Now, therefore, in this human form of life, it is time to inquire about spiritual realization." [Vedanta-sutra 1.1.1] Who am I? What is the real mission of human life? What is the ultimate purpose of our existence? Every intelligent person must ask these questions and should search for the right answers from the right source. So-called modern educators claim that the purpose of education is to solve the problems of life. But in actuality they are teaching their students how to increase sense gratification more and more, thereby creating more and more paths to degradation. "Thus perplexed by various anxieties and bound by a network of illusions [in terms of increased sense gratification], one becomes too strongly attached to sense enjoyment and falls down into hell." [Bg. 16.16] In modern universities and colleges no one teaches the science by which to answer the question "Who am I?" Srila Prabhupada kindly points out, "There are so many departments in a university: technological, medical, engineering, etc. But where is the department to know and understand what this life is, what God is, and what our relationship is?"[5] The most important department of education, that which teaches the real mission of human life, is completely left out. Scientists claim that modern science is a product of man's curiosity to know. Why aren't they curious to know who we are and what our relationship is with the Supreme Lord, the supreme scientist, Sri Krishna? The Vedas give all the answers perfectly.

Lower forms of life such as animals, birds and plants do not suffer from sinful activities because they never violate the laws of nature. A tiger, for instance, does not commit sinful activity by killing its prey because his body is meant to act in that way; it is properly equipped for that purpose. However, when the spirit soul comes to the level of a human being, the living entity is then subject to the results of his actions (karma-phala). From this human platform the living entity has, therefore, a choice. If the spirit soul wants to leave his material body and attain a spiritual body, he can do so from this human platform; otherwise, at the time of death he can transmigrate to one of the 8,400,000 species according to the desires and consciousness he has developed. Lord Krishna says: "Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail." [Bg. 8.6] From the human platform the spirit soul can escape the miserable wheel of birth and death by developing Krishna consciousness. "And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt." [Bg. 8.5] This is evolution from the material platform to the spiritual platform.

Lower forms of life (animals, birds, plants, etc.) are not favorably situated for taking to Krishna consciousness because they are not intelligent enough to understand this great science. On the other hand, it is understood from Vedic literature that there are demigods who are more elevated than human beings, but their position is also not favorable for taking to Krishna consciousness because they are too materially opulent. Too much material opulence is also a disqualification for taking up Krishna consciousness. "In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination of devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place." [Bg. 2.44] That is why it is an absolute necessity for all sane human beings to take up Krishna consciousness from this human platform, which is the intermediate birth between the demigods and the lower forms of life. Otherwise, the precious human form of life will simply be wasted.