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World Trade Center tragedy

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M.K. Krishnaswamy • September 12, 2001 


Dear Members,

Sri Mani has given the correct lead to us to pray on this occasion.

Many who are young in age, raise a doubt which bothers them seriously, because they can not find a satisfactory answer to the question: Why does God, the omni-powerful, permit tragedies on such vast scale to occur again and again ? Many more will ponder over the power of evil to prevail, even though temporarily - as in World War II when millions died in battles/were exterminated cruelly. 

As to the co-existence of evil and the benevolent God of limitless power, none can offer an explanation which can withstand logical analysis. In the book 'God and Evil' by CEM Joad, the
atheist-author who turned believer at about age 40 (after the immense tragedy of World War II),  considers this very question and the traditional explanations given by great leaders of every religion (including Hinduism) and demonstrates how none of these explanations can prevail against precise, cold, logical analysis.  He then poses the delemma: 'if the heart demands what the brain rejects' and comes to the conclusion that the dilemma is due to our 'intellectual arrogance'. In a very convincing manner, he explains the  need to believe in the assertions of the ancient Seers who had perceived a Truth far beyond the logical reach of our mind, realise our own insufficiency to counter evil, reaffirm our commitment to Good and work for it. This alone will help us to turn to increased faith in a power greater than us as our ultimate source of strength. 

There is no other alternative, no other explanation.  On our part, we should continue to do all that lies within our limited capability, like the little squirrel in Ramayana which participated in the construction of the bridge to Lanka for the army of Rama to march across and destroy the mighty Ravana. What better task than to fight against evil and injustice, and what better ally and tower of strength than the Almighty? 

Dasan,
M.K. Krishnaswamy


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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