Reader Comments on my Article 
and my Response

God & Religion Summary | God in Two Minutes | 'God in Two Minutes' on Facebook

The following is my response to the comments and criticism on my article "God and Religon - A New Look".  Please click here to read comment from a reputed editor

Update: This article has now evolved into a published book titled "God in Two Minutes" downloadable by clicking here. Please read the book and Post your comments on the Facebook page.

If you have any query or comment on the views expressed in this site, particularly those on God and Religion, please click on Post a Query or Comment link. Your query or comment will be emailed to me. Your views and response to your queries will be posted on this site. This is your own page... so SHOOT !!

Extract from Column titled "Politically Incorrect" by Rose

"Prem Kamble continued the spiritual quest by proposing a new language called 'mentomatics' that would explain the mechanics of reaching the Godly zone. He likened the Godly zone to that heightened level of awareness where confidence, love, faith and hope are at their maximum making everything possible and within reach. However, the reader reaction to this article was surprisingly violent and reminded me of the reactions faced by Galileo when he first proposed the theory that the Earth revolved around the Sun."

.....

"The valuable insight of original thought, much like delicate crystal, cannot be prized, possessed or gifted when it smashes unprotected against the rock of opinions. We dress up our thoughts in the armor of words and send them out to wage war amidst the politically charged world of differing opinions. To be politically incorrect is to honestly state what your opinion is without regard for repercussions."

Comment:   posted by Aparthib Zaman  and My Response

Comment: "This article didn't seem any different from what dianetics, quantum healers, or Maharishi University folks would want us to hear and believe……
….
All of them of course are peddling their ware in a very appealing language for the gullible layfolks, who are not so science literate, but are easily influenced by these mystical languages"

My view: Yes the article is for the layfolks, for the majority of common people whose views are important. It is their views and not of the learned (or spiritually aware) few that gives birth to the religious conflict and violence. The purpose is not to explain what God and religion is, but what IT IS CERTAINLY NOT. The purpose of my article is more to correct the common beliefs about religion rather than to present a researched answer to the big question. The article is targeted for the layfolks because it is their perception which is leading to violence and bloodshed. If at all there is an attempt to find an answer, it is only suggestive, and I have tried to place on the table ideas which may open the door to further research in that area.

Comment: "Truth never appeals to the layfolks, truth has no therapeutic value for the average, so these pseudoscientific languages will always appeal to the resigned majority. These languages strike a chord with them since they use mystique, rhetoric and poetic expressions that layfolks can easily relate to. "

My view: Yes, the ancient sages too used rhetoric, poetic expression, mystique and fiction to explain spirituality to the layfolks, but this does not mean they were not spiritual. They knew that they could not explain the spiritual phenomenon to the common man through reason. They used fiction and pseudo language. But the fiction which was used to explain to the ignorant common man of the ancient times has not changed at all over the times. It has to be tuned (re-engineered) to the modern times keeping in mind the current level of awareness of the common man, his current understanding of common science. The ancient man knew only the physical world and could not even visualize abstract things , hence the fiction devised by the sages was relevant to his time. Today, the common man can relate to abstract things like rays, waves, energies much more easily as he has seen the impact of it in terms of Radio, X Ray, laser, TV, etc. What my article tries to do is to change the fiction to suit today's times and tell the same story to the layfolks in a little more scientific (I may even call it pseudo scientific) language which the common man understands today.

Comment: " 'Mental energy', 'spiritual force', 'quantum mind', etc are examples of the most popular of such expressions that all these pseudoscientific disciplines resort to. "

My view: Yes it is a pseudo-scientific language by design. There is no claim to explain using science. In fact I have stated that today's science cannot explain the spiritual phenomenon, and a new science based on Mentomatics (which again is yet to be invented) may explain it. My attempt in this article is to use common science which the layfolks understand today and attempt to explain the same concept in a language which the sages of the yesteryears could not afford to use.

Comment: "The resigned layfolks are not eager to pursue the objective and hard route to seeking truth, but would rather seek an easy and appealing way "

My view: The purpose of the article is not to seek the truth, but to show that what the layfolks believe as truth is not the truth. The aim is to correct the current perception of "Truth" of the masses.

Comment: "Ease in grasping, "feel good", etc are the prime motivating factor for resorting to these routes for the mass"

My view: The article is for the masses, so ease of grasping is of prime importance.

Comment: "Although no claim is made about the scientificity of the approach, it comes out loud and clear that indeed attempt was made to caste the ideas in scientific language. "

My view: Not only no claim is made of the scientificity of the approach, I believe that current science may not be able to explain spirituality. Just as it was beyond the scope of classical physics to explain the quantum theory, we should not even attempt to explain the spiritual phenomena using the principles of physical science. We can only draw a parallel with the physical science, give illustrative examples from the history of physical science as my article has done, but not use science to explain spirituality. Yes it is possible that the new science developed may explain both the spiritual world and the physical world. Like quantum physics not only explains the fast moving particles but also encompasses the laws of classical physics and explains the slow moving objects, Mentomatics and a new spiritual science may explain both the laws of spiritual world and encompass the laws of physical world.

Comment:   posted by Gauge

The response is published in Mukto-mona forum ( http://www.mukto-mona.com target="_blank")

His idea appears to be at the conceptual stage only, where he has given a heuristic setting for his "mentomatics". Hardly any comment is possible without further construction. But hey, who knows, it is an idea in it's infancy and maybe he can prove something with it as he explores it. It may turn out to be completely different from what he or we apprehend.

My view: Yes, the ideas expressed are at a conceptual stage because the purpose of the article is not to prove scientifically what is God, but to prove what God is not, to correct the common belief of the masses. I believe that today finding an answer to the question is less important than setting right the common misconceptions looking at the widespread intolerance and violence caused by religion. Please see my detailed reply to Aparthib's mail (reproduced above)

Your comments show a very mature thinking and a very open mind. This is the type of openness which is really required to read an original thought which challenges the normal beliefs and opinions which have sunk into our sub conscience over the centuries.

Comment by Rose. 

Rose had included the following comments on my article in her Column titled "Politically Incorrect"

"Premshankar Kamble continued the spiritual quest by proposing a new language called 'mentomatics' that would explain the mechanics of reaching the Godly zone. He likened the Godly zone to that heightened level of awareness where confidence, love, faith and hope are at their maximum making everything possible and within reach. However, the reader reaction to this article was surprisingly violent and reminded me of the reactions faced by Galileo when he first proposed the theory that the Earth revolved around the Sun."

..................

"The valuable insight of original thought, much like delicate crystal, cannot be prized, possessed or gifted when it smashes unprotected against the rock of opinions. We dress up our thoughts in the armor of words and send them out to wage war amidst the politically charged world of differing opinions. To be politically incorrect is to honestly state what your opinion is without regard for repercussions."

Feedback Comments in Bestthinking.com

Prem Kamble

April 22, 2010 at 9:36 am

Thank you, Gary, for your feedback. While I respect the different belief systems, my contention in the book is that they are our current beliefs with our current level of knowledge. We have come a long way in our pursuit of knowledge, but the journey is still on.

"I am concerned about your notion that spiritual awakening can be achieved in an instant. The path to spiritual awakening is fairly well known and I believe that attempted short-cuts lead to heart-ache at best and disaster at worst."

I agree with you that the path to spiritual awakening is well known, but I believe that a much faster, simpler method will be devised in future. I am also aware that the spiritual awakening cannot be achieved in an instant today. But, maybe, several years from now there will be a method to do that. Having progressed so much so far, if we extrapolate into the future and think with an open mind, what seems impossible today may be a reality tomorrow. What is important for all of us is not to close our eyes to the possibilities.

Here is an extract from the original book which exactly addresses this concern:

"A few decades back, the only way to move was to walk. If man had closed his eyes and said that walking is the only way to move from one place to another, he would never have invented cars. If he had said that moving along land is the only way, he would not have invented airplanes."

So if we go back to the time when walking was the only way to commute, we would have said, "Don't move too fast, you will hurt yourself and end up in disaster". But to move fast, we did not run faster, instead, we invented cars and aircraft. Your concern about attempting to move fast in the spiritual space is similar to this concern of running fast in the physical space. Attempting to move fast in the spiritual space with the current methods may end up in disaster. But what if we invent new methods?

People of the past could not have imagined that man would fly some day. Similarly, today we cannot think of instant methods for spiritual awakening. But looking at our jump from the ground to the air in the physical space, a flight into spiritual space is a distinct possibility.

All that seemed impossible to the ancient humans has become possible today. If we think with an open mind, something that sounds impossible today to us will be possible tomorrow.

More extracts on this topic from the book:

"When we made ships, we thought that sailing was the only way to move across water. It took several days to cover the distances - until someone thought of discovering a faster way: he invented the Hovercraft. He rose above water level and discovered a faster way. No longer was there the resistance of water, no longer need for support.

Similarly we can probably find a way 'above water' to reach the Godly zones and discover God, a way that will be several times faster than today's methods of God, Religion, prayers, etc.

A few decades back, businesses did all their office work manually. Nobody could have ever imagined that one day there would be something called computer that would do it for you in seconds.

It is very likely that there will be devices or methods in the future that will enable us to quickly get to the state of mind we desire. Although it sounds ridiculous now, the concept of cars, aircrafts and computers too would have sounded equally ridiculous a few years back.

I seriously believe that it WILL happen. For all we know, one of you readers may be the one who may discover mentomatics. There will be a better and sure method to reach the Godly zones. After the industrial and the information revolution, time is ripe for the spiritual revolution."

By the way, Gary, I visited quite a few sites and blogs related to your work "In pursuit of Joy". Wonderful work.

Comments in Sulekha  http://srinivasan.sulekha.com/blog/comments.htm 

Srinivasan on God and Religion: A New Look

that was a very contributory thought, raju. well prem the uniqueness, and i would say the forte, of your theory is the way you've tried to quantify the concept of god, the way you've attempted to relate it to the laws of physics. highlight that in your article. emphasize it. the part about religion seems a bit digressing from the scientific/mathematical outlook that you try to propose. it seems to be a reiteration of the same old talk we hear so often about moral codes and conducts etc. keep that on a lower note in your article, i feel. just an opinion ! and you could actually afford to go deeper into the mathematical aspect that you proffer. for instance, you could talk about meditation/concentration taking one to higher potential energy levels and giving one a greater efficiency to work better. you could also extend the concept to kinetic energy of the mind touching upon how a sudden spasm of enthusiasm or, more often, anger gives one a strangely higher physical/mental energy. or you could try to elaborate on the probability theory for the success-outcome of one's efforts based on his position in the mental space. these are mere suggestions based on the abstract you've posted here. of course, your complete work may encompass all this and more ! just to share my thoughts.

Srinivasan  On  God and Religion: A New Look

hello prem, i am a regular reader of articles at sulekha; but due to my frequent trips recently, i somehow missed this one. and it seems that your article has generated a lot of interest amongst readers - a very good sign ! i should say an encouraging sign indeed ! i don't understand what these guys are making a big hue and cry about !! about muhammad and buddha and christ being placed together ??! or about the avatars of vishnu and the nuances between them and ram ??! it's ridiculous ! they are debating and cribbing about something totally unrelated to the crux of the article. did the article centralize on any of these issues ? no. these were just minor underpinnings for the main point that the author had to put forth and which in itself was very innovative and original. then why try to nitpick about irrelevant issues ??! the article was not about the "religious politics" as one of the esteemed critics calls it ! then why carp about that ?!!! i tell you prem , this is all a part of the typical "indian mentality". when they try to snob you and disdain you with this gusto, rest assured that you have done a stupendously good job which promises to be a whopping success ! that's why all these efforts to pull your morale down ! anyway, coming to the article. i would encourage you to develop the idea and go ahead and get it published. the theory that you propound is really original and interesting. but i would suggest that you consider making some changes : 1. as someone pointed out, the lines - i am convinced that i am able to see clearly what may not be evident to several people in the world. i know that a great deal of wrong is being done in this world because of this misunderstanding, which can immediately be corrected if we all see what i can see. - do convey a slightly arrogant tone. never try to belittle the reader - that's the first key to good writing. this is just a subtlety related to writing that you should take into account. it does not have anything to do with the main idea of the article. 2. maybe this was just an excerpt from your work and, therefore, it seemed to rush up through things. but take the reader smoothly through complicated points. for example, you just jumped from god to religion and the reader feels that the topic of god is left a bit too brusquely without developing it completely. the idea may not get conveyed clearly due to this. i'll give the article more thought and come up with more comments on it. but do go on with your pursuits of developing to finesse this new concept. i would like to know from one of our esteemed critics who commented that mentomatics already exists - which is this language dealing with the dynamics on the mental plane that you are talking about ? please feel free to give me the details at srinit2k@hotmail.com. i am really eager to know about it. happy reading, all of you ! :)

Will the Human Race Survive Another 100 Years?

- My Response to a Query by Stephen Hawkins, renowned Physicist

Dear Dr Hawking,

You have hoped that genetic engineering will make us wise and less aggressive. I do believe we will become wiser and less aggressive, not because of genetic engineering, but because of the next revolution which is awaiting us – the spiritual revolution. After the industrial revolution and the information revolution, the next revolution WILL be the spiritual revolution. Whereas the industrial revolution enhanced our muscle power, and the information revolution the brain power, the spiritual revolution will touch our minds and spirits. And everyone will be much more spiritually evolved than we are – and that will result in the future generation being wiser and less aggressive. The hatred and violence will end and love pervade. The world will survive not just another 100 years, but millions of years. My article “God and Religion – A New Look” takes a peek into the future by analyzing the past and extrapolating into the future possibilities. This article is not religious, not science or philosophy, but plain common sense.

I do not believe that the concept of God and Religion will bring about the spiritual revolution. It is only making the world worse. Spiritual revolution will dawn in as the laws of spiritual space will be “scientifically” explained – just as the laws of physical space have been mathematically explained in the previous eras. I use “scientific” within quotes because I believe that it is not the present day physical science and mathematics which will explain the laws of spiritual space. There will be an invention of new “science” and mathematics, (which I call “mentomatics”), which will explain the laws of Spiritual space. The future spiritual era will have advanced tools to take you within minutes to a high mental state, the state that the likes of Buddha and Christ reached. Man will be able to attain a mental state which is high on love, compassion, faith, etc. The spiritual revolution will see the end of religious divide and killing – spiritual research will make it crystal clear to the common man that all religions are mere tools with a single objective of spiritual upliftment.

“Sounds unbelievable!” Right? All I will request you to do is to transport yourself mentally to the stone age. Now imagine a future world having television sets with which you can see and hear what is happening real time at the other end of the world. Imagine jets and planes that reach you  places several thousand miles away within hours, and so on. Your reaction as a stone age man would be the same – “sounds stupid!” But all that has happened today – you have television and aircrafts/spacecrafts which would have sounded like imaginations of a crazy mind to the Stone Age man. So do not discount what are the possibilities of the future. Whereas we are in the space age of the physical science today, we are in the stone age of spiritual science. You just need to let your imagination go wild to see what would be the possibilities when the world reaches the ‘space age’ of spiritual science.

What we need to think is not whether the spiritual revolution is possible, but how we can speed up its arrival. We need to remove self imposed barriers and leapfrog towards the invention of mentomatics (The article at https://premkamble.com/godbook discusses the first steps towards mentomatics, and the pitfalls that we need to avoid). We need to come out of the spiritual kindergarten that we are stuck into because of our “religious trance” and graduate to higher schools of spirituality. We need to give up the “baby walker” of religion that we are holding on to for too long even though we have already learnt to walk. And unless we give up the baby walker, we will not be able to sprint and run.

Reader Response to my Post

 --- In humansurvival@yahoogroups.com, "Anand" <aphadnis2002@  wrote:

 Dear Mr Kamble

 Just read your rejoinder to Dr. Hawkings question.... and found it
 quite interesting. After reading your reply, what you say sounds
 quite plausible. I have yet to read the full text of your theory on
 mentomatics (doesnt matter what we call it at this moment in time),
 however I do like your theory.

 Might I remind you, that infact the enhanced state of awareness or
 oneness with the universe that you talk about was regularly achieved
 by the hindu sages and men and women from the age of lord sri Ram,
 Laxman and the Mahabharata - Shri Krishna, Arjun, Bheeshma. They had
 attained what we look up to as supernatural powers - Powers to see
 the future and so on. These seem supernatural only to us. Applying
 the same analogy that you have applied, we are but babies as far as
 the development of these attributes. However if as you suggest  we
 master the techniques to attain these powers just as those great men
 did, who knows mankind may once again attain those dizzying
 spiritual hieghts. We have had that knowledge in our midst, its just
 that the society needs to shed its blinkers.

 Please accept my sincere complements on writing such a wonderful
 reply... and for presenting an Indian voice in this discussion. One
 thing which I am now certain about is that while the western world
 was at the fore front of all the advances in science and technology,
 I strongly believe the world shall be looking to India and Indian
 values when it comes to spiritual advancement of the human race.

 regards
 Anand Phadnis


 --- In humansurvival@yahoogroups.com, "Prem" <pukamble@ wrote:

 Dear Anand,

 I too believe that the knowledge of spiritual/mental science was
 more advanced in the olden times since all you needed to explore and
 practice it was your own body. Whereas physical science may have
 been lagging behind. What made physical science grow faster and
 overtake mental/spiritual science was the invention of mathematics

 which made the physical science available to the masses in
 universities. Whereas spiritual science could only be taught through
 the "gurukul" methodology with severe demands from the students.
 Moreover, there was a major flaw in the way spiritual science was
 and is taught - it is based on faith. In my article
 (https://premkamble.com/godbigsframe.htm) I have explained how
 this double edged sword called faith has seriously limited our
 advancement of this science.

 You need something like mentomatics to take the spiritual science to
 the masses. I believe it will happen. In the physical science,
 classical physics explained the laws of slow moving objects. Quantum
 physics not only explained fast moving but also encompassed laws of
 Classicl physics as well. Similarly mental/spiritual science will
 not only explain the mental/spiritual space, it will apply to the
 physical space as well. It will reach the masses so that everyone
 can reach the dizzying spiritual heights you talk of.

 Prem

--- In humansurvival@yahoogroups.com, "Brian" <whoguy423@... wrote:

 Count me in on that one too. I too believe it is through spritual
 awareness that we humans can advance. The primitive tribes we find in
 the amazon are more spititually advance than modern society because
 they live in harmony with nature.
 I beleive that you do not need to go through rigourous training or
 learning to follow a spiritual path. One only has to listen to one
 self because to know the one is to know the whole. By whole, I mean
 everything, God, the Universe(s), the all.
 Funny thing is, many people already do this without knowing it!!!
 Those of you who follow their heart, these are the people I am talking
 about. Many confuse the mind with heart and this is where big problems
 arise. For one to tell the difference, when one follows the heart, it
 is done out of love, not greed, selfishness or hate.
 Now when I say follow your heart, what I am actually saying is
 follow your soul. This is probably too much for most people to
 understand so that is why I use lay man's terms "Follow your Heart".
 There is an amazing amount of wizdom in that saying!

 Thanks

Review of my book by an Editor (Text replica and image of the original document reproduced below)
Manuscript of the book is available at  God and Religion - A New Look  

Please see the scanned image of the document below....

MINERVA PRESS
PUBLISHERS

EDITORIAL EVALUATION