Book:The circle of lives
by Dr. A. M. M. Sahabdeen

"Every reader will find in it some rays of light" — says, Dr. C. G. Weeramantry

The above book which is the third in the line of Publications written by Deshamanya Dr. A. M. M. Sababdeen, has just been released. The Author, who held many top level positions in the former Ceylon Civil Service, and served in several Presidential commissions was also a Visiting Professor of Philosophy at Vidyodaya University for some time.

The main focus of the book is an overview of Reality from the perspectives of Religion (the highest common factor in the major religions) science and philosophy, and man’s pivotal role in the universe. It is also a tirade against the materialism of our contemporary world and a powerful reminder of the Transcendental Reality common to all religions, a factor conductive to the spiritual unity of mankind inspite of the apparent differences of race, colour, languages and cultures. Its perspective is Universalist and non-sectarian. It is a vision from the summit, looking at life from its primordial origin, progressing through the main epochs of history, and anticipating an unknown future. Inspite of the dark pages of history, the Author finds optimism and hope in the indomitable spirit of man. He draws abundantly from not only the sacred scriptures of mankind but also from the latest findings of science and the reflections of the great philosophers. From such quintessence of unified knowledge, the Author finds Religion as the gateway to the Final Truth and human salvation.

Dr. C. G. Weeramantry, former Vice President and presently Judge ad hoc of the International Court of Justice, in his Foreword commenting on the contents of the book observes:

‘The cross-cultural richness of the human inheritance is a topic that has long interested me especially because the workers in the field are so few and the harvest can be so great. So little is known about it that most people - even people of great learning — tend to restrict their attention and thought processes within the confines of the one cultural tradition with which they are most familiar, whereas the need of the hour is a universalism that transcends such barriers which constrict our vision.

This book turns the searchlight of scholarly scrutiny upon this much neglected area. The field is so vast that only glimpses of it are possible. Those glimpses are available in abundance in this book. They are the result of thoughtful reflection are available in abundance in this book. They are the result of thoughtful reflection over a lifetime and come to the reader with a lustre and vividness which will make a lasting impact.

It therefore gives me very special pleasure to write this Foreword to Dr. Sahabdeen’s book which combines perspectives drawn from across the world, from all religions; philosophies and disciplines. Cutting across all barriers he provides us with a rich feast of philosophical thought and ideas ranging from 4000 BC to the present day and foreshadows also what lies ahead.

The entire universe of philosophy is the field from which Dr. Sahabdeen had collected his material. The vision he has of our human existence is such as to give even the most learned and philosophical minds new vistas and perspectives which will enrich them on their journey through life.

Just as most people tend to confine themselves within the limits of one culture, so also do they tend to confine themselves within the limits of the disciplines with which they are most familiar. Dr. Sahabdeen crosses all disciplinary boundaries, just as he crosses all cultural boundaries, thus giving us a book which ranges over the entire field of the human intellect. His vision ranges from the origins of the universe, tens of thousands of millions of years ago to its tens of thousands of millions of galaxies, and from thence to the entire history of the human species on this planet. It ranges over the Vedantha, Zoroastrian, Judaic, Christian, Buddhist, Islamic, Taoist and other universalistic philosophies. Taking the reader through a sweeping overview of history from 4000 BC to the present day, he gives us a Magna Carta for the nuclear age with a Universal Declaration of Individual Accountability and a Charter of Spiritual Values. He deals with man’s ultimate destiny of cosmic responsibility through insights drawn from transcendental philosophy and philosophical reflections on survival after death and the after life as taught by the major religions. The final sentence of his book, just before the Epilogue, encapsulates it all when he says "Such is the story of all beings originating from, and ending in god.

It is a special honour to be able to contribute a Foreword to a book such as this . Every reader will find in it some rays of light which will guide him or her in their journey through life and elevating thoughts which will lift his or her vision towards the transcendental and away from materialistic and earthly pre-occupations.