Fresh Enquiry Into Eternal Themes (An Old And Rare Book)

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The world is proceeding through an accelerative thrust unprecedented in history. Our global culture. among other things, constitutes values drawn from the repertoire of many world religions. The eternal truths which Prophet Zarathushtra bequeathed to us in the dim antiquity of Iranian history is a rich historic harvest. little known, but with an immense potential for philosophical analysis and above all, for global good amidst rapidly changing socio-economic and political values. It is incumbent upon the votaries of Zoroastrianism to refocus their eternal truths and rich heritage in the light of these developments. Dr. J. D. Randeria has done this amazingly well under the significant caption: "Fresh Enquiry into Eternal Themes."

India, the land which always possessed an uncommon hospitality for wisdom coming from across its borders, may now be considered the motherland of Zoroastrianism. Dr. Randeria, born and nurtured in India and now domiciled in South Africa, has to her credit the Indian atmosphere of Zoroastrian learning and practice, as well as a brilliant academic career and a penetrating mind to visualise and lucidly expound the vast spectrum of Zoroastrian beliefs in the light of modern changes. Together with her erudite husband, Dr. D. N. Randeria, she has been expound- ing these themes with great conviction and dignity over a lengthy period, in both India and South Africa.

This work covers a plethora of essential subjects that gives a quick but penetrating view of the religion. The author has deliberately excluded historical information and treats of immediate philosophical-metaphysical issues and their relevance to our daily thinking and actions. The Zoroastrian view of the Creator and creation is particularly interesting. It is a complex link involving many elements of karma, sin, atonement, intuitive faith, judgement, etc.

The Essays in this book are a direct outcome of the author's common knowledge and sharing of characte- ristics endowed to humans, namely the ability. will, concern and patience to think, as well as accept with intuitive faith that which is beyond comprehension. The ability to think, from the immediate reflex to the most complicated mental process, is the ability to concentrate to the point of oblivion. The will and concern intellectu- ally affect the thinking process in its intense effort; while patience implies the time expended. To rationalise is to analyse facts conceived by the mind and to accept in faith is to believe not only in the scope of issues falling outside of the range of human senses but also of the human thought process. The insubstantial spiritual can be neither sensed by direct evidence nor thought out, because intuitive faith rather relies on 'blank' evidence, such as, the possibility of the mind to accept that there is some- thing assuredly existent beyond the 'dead end'.

The topics selected are philosophical and controver- sial, described and debated for aeons to be left as ambigu- ous for lack of any final answer emerging. It is generally agreed that the answer must be sought in faith; the faith that lies at the point where human 'imagination' has been stretched to its limits. But in many a mind, faith is the least trusted; a cheater veiling the truth. With nothing presently to replace it, the doubt continues, pushing the solution further away. It is necessary therefore to dis- cover the Healing Touch in the midst of commotion. It has been attempted in each Essay to discover a saving grace against indignation, and to encourage a hopeful new line of thinking that would cause, in time, the wound bordered by rational thought and intuitive faith to heal, naturally.