DEALING with the fundamental truth of human life and using simple examples interspersed with real-life experiences, the author expresses his thirst for knowledge which is a natural human obsession. The sheer indestructibility of the enquiring spirit energised the people of the West to focus mainly on the realm of matter and the material aspects of it. The world, therefore, witnessed the inevitable – the substitution of the “Lord in Heaven” with the “forces of science, technology and money power”, says Singhal. He is absolutely right for as we can see, three-quarters of the 20th century have been witnessing exponential development in all possible physical pursuits of man. Here the author cites the example of the Olympics where man has broken records, where man has landed on the Moon, made startling discoveries in the fields of genetic engineering, electronics, telecommunications, creature comforts and entertainment, discovered new and newer inventions, but in the process, somewhere on the way, man as a ‘being’, has lost his way.
The author refers to the developments in India where the “spirit of enquiry” made the ancient sages follow the profound wisdom contained in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Gita and evolve a way of life which was noble and fulfilling and helped man to attain salvation of the soul. Examining the spiritual essence of life and culture, starting with the ultimate truth of consciousness, the author shows how to create a new and real human being – an individual with intelligence, integrity and understanding.
He talks of the quintessential principles of Vedantic thought on the Hindu Dharma for basing his many insights and explorations. He examines both the strengths and weaknesses of modern culture and shows a way beyond, integrating the insights of the ancient sages.
This book is a good manual for inner growth combining the scientific humanism of the West with the spiritual humanism of the East. He shows how to integrate the spiritual understanding of Nature as depicted by the Hindu yogis to meet the needs of the modern age.
(Selective & Scientific Books Publishers & Distributors, C-73/B Ground Floor, Pandav Nagar, Patparganj, Delhi – 110092; www.ssbooks.in)
