Why Me?

Making sense of suffering

De: Krishna Dharma

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

An exploration into the old conundrum of how suffering in the world can exist in the presence of an all-powerful, all knowing and loving God. Here is the author's chapter by chapter outline: Chapter One.The Road to Despair Examines a number of materialistic viewpoints, asking if they provide us with any answers as to why we suffer.I talk about cause and effect and how it doesn't always seem to work. I suggest we need to accept the existence of a higher power. Chapter two.A Moral Dilemma. Considers arguments against God.I ask if there can be good and moral atheists and go on to consider a number of moral dilemmas and polemics, exploring the question of how we define goodness. I conclude that goodness is ultimately defined as that which leads to happiness. Chapter three. What is happiness? Explores the question of happiness, how we define it and how it is perceived differently by different kinds of people according to their different paradigms. I suggest that happiness depends upon our understanding of who we really are. Chapter four. My Real Self. I consider logical arguments for the existence of a spirit soul. I also consider what the major faiths have to say about a soul. I show how the self or soul is usually described as a part of the supreme. Chapter five.Different Gods. Here I explore the nature of the supreme from various viewpoints. If God is a person then why does he allow suffering? Chapter six.Back to You Is misery a result of sin? Are we being punished in some way? I look at what the major faiths have to say. I suggest that reactions from acts performed in past lives are affecting us now. Chapter Seven. Life to Life Examines the question of reincarnation from the viewpoint of various traditions and thinkers. Chapter Eight. Why is there karma? Asks whether karma is simply punitive or is there some lesson we need to learn? Intelligent selfishness. Becoming karma free by moving from selfishness to selflessness and enlightenment. Chapter Nine. Shifting the Paradigm What is the worldview of an enlightened person, and how do we get to such a view, becoming free of prejudice? I suggest that suffering is extraneous to us – a self-imposed condition arising from ignorance. How can we realise our true spiritual nature and rise above all misery? Conclusion. Justice and Mercy Summary of the book and key points