Book Review in The Hindu- Divine Sovereignity and our Freedom

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

Dearest Srivaishnavas,

 

The book review- that appeared in the Hindu is

reproduced below. Sri Madhusudhanan gave me a copy to

read this book a month agao. It is brillaintly written

book in very simple, practical terms and answers many

of our queries on Karma, Jeevathma's freewill vs

dependence on Lord, our choice- How free are we? Are

we to decide? Is our future detined or can it be

changed? Why shoud evil attract us? The list goes on

and anseres are pointive and lucidly narrated fully in

accordance with saasthras. SRi Neudntheru KaNNan Swami

is the author of the book and this is his first book.

he writes [at the back cover of the book] that the

readers are to decide if this is going to be author's

last book also. :-)

 

This book is also a must for addition in our library.

Regards

Namo Narayana

dasan

************

Guide to spirituality

 

DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY AND OUR FREEDOM: Neduntheru S.

Kannan; Srinivasa Educational and Social Trust, D-2,

Adyar Apartments, 4th Main Road, Kottur Gardens,

Chennai-600085. Rs. 100.

 

PHILOSOPHY IS speculation of the whole Reality by a

critical examination of facts and prevalent doctrines.

Western philosophy is an intellectual avocation. But

Indian philosophy, especially Vedanta, is God-centered

and encompasses ethics, do's and don'ts and faith.

 

The ontology of Brahman (or God) is also very

important. Vyasa's Brahmasutra (II.3.4), asserts that

human effort is dependent on the Para (God). An

interesting question arises; "Has man got a free will

to act or is he merely dependent on the sovereign

influence of God? What decides human action?"

 

Ramanuja's school has devised a self-consistent model

in this area of thought. The soul is eternal; it has

rebirth; its action is influenced by past Karmas. As

such, God is said to have a three-phase role. First He

is indifferent, then He permits and finally He

induces.

 

Practical illustrations are cited; quite a few are

included in the book under review. Thus an individual

is prompted by the impact of his own previous actions,

which are similar to the waves in a sea. As you sow,

so you reap.

 

Conscience is God's presence in man. Man knows — and

ought to know — what is right. If he persists in

wrong-doing, God then lets him do and go down in sin

and suffer. Not that God is unkindly; nor can He be

partial. If one is good and does good, he will go up

and God helps.

 

In this manner, man has free will, but he will rise or

fall, as he deserves. He cannot merely put the blame

on God. The author has marshalled facts and

philosophical concepts to serve as a moral guidebook.

 

His vast equipment in religious literature has helped

him produce a nice guide that is instructive,

informative and elevating. Spiritual seekers will

stand to benefit from this excellent paperback.

 

 

V. N. VEDANTA DESIKAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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