We do not know the purpose of life and yet we live. We do not know God and yet we talk about Him. We have been doing this for centuries. Not knowing Him or knowing Him as unknown, beyond known or unknowable does not prevent us to talk about Him. Any discussion adds to our knowledge, for by discussion we generate ideas and then try to validate them.
The subject of God is neither new nor exhaustible, for it is a mystery that still remains unsolved; a riddle that is full of paradoxes. Any discussion on God is full of potential for argument and disagreement.
This discussion on God is yet another effort to raise questions and try to know the answers. We are of course free to form our own opinion as to the correctness of their views. It is a process of learning. One cannot be sure whether it is true knowledge or a mere hypothesis; for that depends on the instruments of verification.
As to the motivation for writing this book, it is to emphasize that self development and social responsibility are as important as generating wealth and growth of intellectual advancements. Practice of spirituality and social needs need not confront each other. Aberrations caused by excessive materialism and lack of ethics and morality in a competitive society need to be corrected in the larger interest of human survival. This is best done through spreading awareness of universal values associated with religious feelings and spiritual consciousness. Intellect based technological progress alone does not solve all problems of survival. Devoid of spiritual input, scientific progress can cause new tensions through consumerism and exploitation of limited resources. Unchecked, this one sided progress can lead to greater problems of physical and mental pollution that makes existence difficult and even life-threatening. In the circumstances, it becomes necessary to bring awareness to the spiritual aspect of life more convincingly on a wider canvas to stop the greed and prevent destruction of nature in the garb of economic development for selfish ends. Mind needs to be trained to recognize the difference between needs and desires, development of self over the interests of society, joy of unrestricted acquisition and peace of contentment. It is also important to recognize what constitutes the essentials of religion, what is intended and what is practiced, in relation to universal existence, the meaning behind exhortations and ritual practices. Re-assertion of universal values is a timely need, it serves as the mid course correction in the overall development of society. In short, the aim of this exercise is to highlight that rationality need not confront faith, but work along with it in the common interest of our survival and development. Spirituality, as the core of religion, needs its due appreciation and a place in the scientific and economic development of our lives.
This book is intended to initiate a yet another thought stream on spirituality. It will be of interest to all those who have an outside curiosity on the subject but have never delved on the related questions. They may not entirely agree with the answers but the intention is not to provide solutions; it is to create awareness on an aspect of life that is inherently spiritual in content and always embedded, though at times unconsciously, in every one’s mind. The question of divine justice, ethics and morality in competitive life and the spiritual content of religion have touched most persons. It is through knowing what others think about it that we become a bit more aware of the subject and relate our actions to those views. In that respect, every effort at enhancing such awareness is desirable and even needed. Specifically, the persons who are more likely to benefit from reading this dialogue are: those interested in eastern religions, those who relate religion to social structure, those who are interested in Vedanta as a philosophy of life, those who are curious to know the relevance of religion in life, and religious institutions which are engaged in educating and informing others about religious way of life.
The book is dedicated to those who respect and value intuitive thought and those who keep an open mind to both rationality and faith.
I hope the discussion finds some interest among the readers who are sincerely concerned with different aspects of spiritualty, knowing fully well that no discussion on God can be completely satisfying to all.
