FOREWORD

What are the things that people live for? Money? Power? Fame? The goals vary with the individual, some being immediate, frivolous, easily interchangeable, while others appear as remote possibilities, difficult of attainment and to be struggled towards over a long period of time, with an unvarying sense of urgency and commitment. In the latter case, whatever the actual goal, and no matter whether it is striven towards in a spirit of egoism or altruism, the whole-hearted dedication of oneself to its attainment is almost like undertaking a religious mission. The man who derives immense satisfaction from the simple fact of having grown a very beautiful rose is no less dedicated than his neighbour who strains every fibre of his being towards becoming a millionaire. The opportunists and profiteers of this world are no less dedicated than the philanthropists who uplift the downtrodden and give generously to the poor. A man’s whole life is conditioned by the goal he sets himself. It becomes the pivot of his ideas and emotions, his actions and preoccupations, his dealings with friends, family and the rest of society. No aspect of a man’s life remains unaffected by it, and he clings fast to his ‘religion’ all twenty-four hours of the day, be he conscious of this or not.

The point which is missed by so many people nowadays is that whatever our goals in life; whether selfless or selfish, and whatever the zeal with which we pursue them, our ultimate goal should be to prostrate ourselves before God. No goal should ever be so placed above and beyond religion that the godhead becomes eclipsed. And no matter what kind of religion we choose for ourselves—God-centred, pantheistic or Godless—we should never lose sight of the fact that in this world we are all on trial. There is a common, but erroneous belief that a Godless religion coupled with material success should be the be-all and end-all of existence. But success achieved without God’s being an all-pervasive factor is a trivial, ephemeral matter, relative only to life on earth, and will not support one into the life Hereafter. When death finally overtakes a man, all his material possessions and all his worldly successes fall away from him, and he is left, alone, and empty-handed, to stand before God, who will arise before Him in all His might and majesty. Then will come the moment of trial. And it will avail him little to talk of his worldly prowess at that awesome moment, for honour and success are hollow, worthless concepts when achieved without the framework of a God-centered religion. Success gained in this way will condemn a man in the life-after-death to eternal failure.

Only God-centred religion is real and in harmony with man’s nature. But this truth does not occur to him until the hour of crisis and peril is upon him. A man may have any religion, or any material props he chooses, but, in moments of real crisis, it is to God that he calls out for help. Such an experience, which we all go through at one time or another in our lives, is a clear indication that the God-centred religion is the only true one. As such, it should pervade man’s entire existence. Any religion other than this will fail him in his hour of need, in the Hereafter; just as ordinary, everyday means of support so often do in moments of crisis in this world.

Man’s experience of today is a pointer to the fate he will encounter in the everlasting world of the Hereafter. Only those who heed the message now, and shape their lives accordingly, will prosper in the world to come.