This book is a caravan-stop in a journey of over thirty years, ever since I began wondering about two related questions when I was a college student-a) why do people behave the way they do, and b) how should people behave, ideally. I began reading what great thinkers and sages had to say about the subject in the past and soon realised that these questions cannot be answered in isolation, for there are other mysteries to be explored and resolved, if not prior to the question of human conduct, then at least in parallel with it. What is a human being; what is his place in the vastness of the universe; what is his relation to Nature and to a Creator (should one exist); what is the ultimate purpose of a human being's existence on Earth; should one consider lives before and after the span of this one life that we have: these are matters on which one necessarily has to have an integrated view.
The journey has taken me across time and place, across civilisations ancient and modern, across China, India, the Middle East, Europe and America over the three thousand years for which we have some documented wisdom. I am now ready to share what I have discovered along the way, with the understanding that while I believe I have made progress, I do not believe I have reached my destination. Perhaps there is no final destination, perhaps the journey itself is the point.
This work is organised in four books, with four differing styles of treatment. I have written these books (or sections) in a way that a reader can possibly pick up any of the sections and it should still be readable, without much reference to prior sections. However, I would advise the reader to go in order, for I believe that will enable a better appreciation of the statements or conclusions I have drawn.
Book One: The World as it Is
The first book describes the conclusions of my thought process, along with explanations and commentary on why I have drawn these conclusions and some of the implications. It is written in a formal style, with definitions, axioms, propositions and arguments, though they are not strictly formal proofs.
Book Two: Interlude
Here I take a pause, and examine the system that I have proposed in its entirety, focusing on my innermost doubts and concerns about what such a system implies. I have faced these doubts head on and tried to address them to my satisfaction before proceeding.
Book Three: Guidance for Human Conduct.<
This is the culmination of the journey (so far), where I propose Seven Principles to act as a guide or reference for how we should navigate our progress through this life.
Book Four: Ethical Systems A Scan Across Human Civilisations
In this section, I have reviewed, summarised and critiqued religious and philosophical systems across different cultures, in order to understand and absorb lines of thought that I consider relevant and useful. While this is presented as the concluding Book Four and can be treated almost as an Appendix or Reference, in actual chronological sequence this review formed a vital part of the analysis, evaluation and conclusions presented in the first three Books.
It is my hope that this effort will prove beneficial to every seeker on the path of trying to work out the answers to life's mysteries in his or her own life.
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