In Search of Heaven's Truth: Seven Gems

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Copyright © Arthur Taylor 2024

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Preface

The creation of In Search of Heaven’s Truth: 7 Gems was directed by the Spirit of God. It’s coming forth was a 20-year journey in listening to its whisperings.

It is hoped that its review will bring each person closer to God along his or her journey for truth. The objective of 7 Gems is to enable the reader to review a simple summary of various religious texts, and then prayerfully consider with God one’s own life and inward peace.

Peace is a gift from God, but must be sought for by individual faith, and choices consistent with one’s own conscience.

The author takes no credit for the book. If it is divine, then it is from God. If not, then he leaves it to the judgment of all who may consider its pages.

Tribute to a Living Legend

Tribute To Revered Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad

MIT World Peace University | Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad | Pune

Tribute to a Living Legend

When I think about what different world religions teach, I can only think of ‘Peace, Love, Harmony, Respect for each other’ and similar such words.

The essence & philosophy of all world religions is to ‘Love & Let live’! Although billions of people across the world learn, read & practice various religions in their various forms, few practice them according to their true essence & philosophy. And one such person who actually does so, is Prof. Dr. Vishwanth D. Karad of Pune, Bharat!

He is endearingly & respectfully referred to as ‘Vishwadharmi’ which means a person who belongs to all world religions in letter and spirit! More than a hundred years ago, Swami Vivekananda of whom Prof. Karad is an ardent follower, had expressed his desire to see the youth of India giving shape to the rise of the nation. Revered Dr. Vishwanath D Karad read these words with his heart and soul. It had a profound effect on him. He showed the courage of conviction and breathed life into Swami Vivekananda's words.

He facilitated the progress of youth fully by creating Maharashtra Institute of Technology (now called MIT, Pune, India) in 1983. His focus lay on imparting holistic education to the students of MIT leading the youth to think and ponder upon the benefits of the pursuit of peace. This led to MIT being named as MIT World Peace University in 2017, where peace studies are a major part of its unique pedagogy.

Although a teacher and educationist by profession, Prof. Dr. Karad is truly one who practices 'omnism'. With a passion for conceptualizing, designing and creating monuments of excellence, all of his monuments and his activities reflect his strong belief in the oneness of the Almighty - the Ultimate Truth - the Ultimate Reality. His favourite tenet is 'Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti' from the Rigveda, which means, the (Ultimate) Truth is only one, though scholarly people call it by different names.

These monuments convey the message of Universal Brotherhood and Peace. The brainchild of Revered Vishwanath Karad, the Philosopher Saint Dnyaneshwara World Peace Dome, World Peace Prayer Hall & Library, is an epitome of architectural magnificence and a contribution towards knowledge divine, an emblem of peace and a source of inspiration for all to embrace peace and humanitarian understanding. It depicts the Vedic principle articulated in Sanskrit as Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam (the World is one Family).

Needless to say Dr. Karad faced several numerous hurdles but he remained steadfast in his resolve to gift this architectural marvel and the message of peace for the future generations. Revered Prof. Dr. Vishwanath Karad's life mission to establish a 'Culture of Peace in the World' and deliverance of Value Based Universal Education are embodied in the establishment of World Peace Prayer Hall and World Peace Library. A living site of Interreligious peace and dialogue, the World Peace Dome constructed at the picturesque Vishwarajbaug, Pune, is not only the largest dome in the world but a living heritage of harmonious amalgamation of eastern spiritual peace and western scientific wisdom exemplifying the ethos of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'- 'The World is One family.

The magnificent structure with 160 ft. diameter and 263 ft height contains 54 larger-than-life-size bronze statues of many outstanding Saints, Scientists and Philosophers from Saint Dnyaneshwar to Albert Einstein. It is an embodiment of establishing a culture of peace and sustainable development that are at the heart of UNESCO's mandate. I therefore, consider this as my sacred duty to pay tributes to this outstanding personality, a living legend, Prof. Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, who is a true Beacon of Light in this world full of anarchy and disorder.

[Attribution and thanks to MIT-World Peace University for this Tribute and use of photos.]

Introduction

This book, In Search of Heaven’s Truth: 7 Gems, is a first-of-its-kind, setting forth the basic teachings of multiple religious texts, all in one place.

Accordingly, the holy writings behind Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism are all set forth in one book. Multiple faiths follow these texts. Accordingly, this book does not attempt to describe any of these faiths themselves, or beliefs of those who follow these texts. Instead, it merely recites what the texts themselves say.

Over a period of some 20 years, the language of each text was intricately reviewed. Each verse of every text was separately reviewed for concepts and, with the use of modern technology, In Search of Heaven’s Truth: 7 Gems (this book) and Religious Digests setting forth over 80,000 textual references by topic (to be published separately) were created.

Religious Digests thus provide prolific documentation for In Search of Heaven’s Truth: 7 Gems. A small portion of the Religious Digests’ references—a few thousand--are included in the book as endnotes.

The objective of In Search of Heaven’s Truth: 7 Gems is simply to present basics of each of the seven texts for the billions who may have never read or considered them, and to provide the reader with a very credible and carefully documented understanding. A greater understanding and respect of the followers of different religious texts will inevitably follow.

Five of these texts come from Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.) Two of them come from non-Abrahamic faiths (Hinduism and Buddhism.)

The Torah is the most widely believed of all the religious texts, and is thus the text most accepted throughout the entire world. Accepted by Jews, Muslims, and Christians, The Torah’s believers exceed 4.5 billion people—more than half the world’s entire population.

In Search of Heaven’s Truth: 7 Gems is written for a world-wide audience of Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists alike, as well as for those of yet other faiths, or no faith at all.

For simplicity’s sake, the Nevi’im and Ketuvim, while distinct religious texts, are nevertheless combined with the Torah.

All persons of all faiths are invited to pursue their own spiritual journey for truth and peace. May all mankind respect the spiritual writings of those of other faiths, and in the process, increase world unity.

Electronic Links

(For those desiring to read any portion of any of the texts, or to read a particular endnote, a listing of electronic links to free copies of all the texts is provided below. These links were all active and operable as of the time of this printing.)

Copyright 2024 by Arthur Taylor

All rights reserved

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Torah (With Nevi’im and Ketuvim)

Chapter 2

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita

Chapter 3

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Chapter 4

New Testament of Jesus Christ

Chapter 5

The Holy Qur’an

Chapter 6

Modern Prophets

Chapter 7

The Sutra Pitakas (Limited)

CHAPTER 1

Torah (With Nevi’im and Ketuvim)

Torah

The Torah consists of five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

The Nevi’im and Ketuvim consist of multiple other writings of ancient prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Malachi.

Some believe the Torah was direct revelation from God to Moses, which he recorded and has been passed down in written form now for centuries.

The Torah is perhaps the most widely accepted of all religious texts today, and is cited in part in the additional religious texts of the Book of Mormon,¹ the New Testament,² the Quran,³ and Modern Prophets.⁴

The Torah tells of the creation of the earth,⁵the placement of Adam and Eve upon it in the Garden of Eden as its first inhabitants,⁶ the transgressions of Adam and Eve in partaking of the forbidden fruit⁷ and their being thrust out of the Garden of Eden by God into the world.⁸

The Torah tells of Adam and Eve’s first children,⁹ and of the jealousy of Cain¹⁰ and his subsequent decision to slay his brother, Abel.¹¹

Abraham and Obedience

It speaks of a righteous descendant of Adam, named Abraham,¹² who followed God and, in turn, received promises from God that he would have a great posterity¹³ as well as lands¹⁴ that God would give to him as an inheritance.

It also tells of Abraham’s son, named Isaac,¹⁵ and grandson, named Jacob¹⁶ who also were faithful followers of God.

One event tells of Abraham and Isaac as Abraham went to offer sacrifices to the Lord. God had commanded Abraham to offer his son Isaac as that sacrifice.¹⁷ Abraham rose up early in the morning¹⁸ to go and do as God had directed.

Upon arrival at their destination Isaac asked where the offering animal was,¹⁹ and then, seemingly without resistance, submitted to God’s will as Abraham informed him that he, Isaac, was to be sacrificed to God.²⁰

At the very moment when Abraham was to slay his son an angel appeared to him²¹ and forbid him from doing so.²² Isaac was released and a ram that had become caught in the thicket was then sacrificed to God instead.²³

Abraham thus passed the test of God of his devotion to Him and his willingness to even offer his own beloved son in order to follow God’s commandments.²⁴

Many Christian followers of the Torah believe that this event was instructive to Abraham, and perhaps Isaac also, of God’s future offering of His own Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.²⁵

Joseph and Forgiveness

The Torah tells of Israel’s twelve sons,²⁶ including one named Joseph.²⁷ God gave Joseph dreams revealing to Him that one day his family would bow in obeisance to him.²⁸

Joseph was highly favored of his father, Israel.²⁹ Jealousy among his brothers rose to the point when one day while some distance from home they staged the fake death of Joseph, stripped Joseph of his coat, and placed animal blood upon his garment.³⁰ They then carried the torn and bloodied coat to Joseph’s father, Israel, and told him that Joseph had been killed by wild beasts.³¹ In fact, he had not been slain, but they had sold him as a slave to a caravan of travelers.³²

That caravan carried Joseph into Egypt where Joseph rose in prominence and in trial as he faithfully served his masters, and despite his being thrown into prison on false charges³³ he continued his devotion to God and his loyal service to mankind.³⁴

God gave to Joseph dreams³⁵ which showed to others God’s inspiration and trust in Him.

The Torah tells how Joseph interpreted another dream—this one of Pharaoh—and that there would be seven years of prosperity in the land, and then seven years of famine.³⁶

Thereafter Joseph became the right-hand man to Pharaoh who gave him charge of all his doings in Egypt.³⁷

Joseph helped all of Egypt preserve food during the years of plenty that they would have enough during the times of famine.³⁸

Meanwhile, the Torah indicates, Israel and Joseph’s brothers began to suffer because of the drought.³⁹ Most of the brothers came to Egypt to obtain food.⁴⁰

As the result of divine direction, they ended up seeking food before the presence of Joseph, now a grown man and a ruler in Egypt. They did not recognize him or know that he was their brother.⁴¹

Over a period of days Joseph used his authority to cause delays in their return with food to their father. He accused them of being spies, and held one of them as ransom until the others would go and then return again with their youngest brother, Benjamin, whom they had mentioned to Joseph in their earlier discussions, as proof that they in fact were not spies⁴².

Despite Israel’s great reluctance to allow his brothers to take Benjamin down to Egypt, he eventually relented as they went again for more food and to prove that they were not spies.⁴³

When all the brothers came again, Joseph—still unrevealed to them as their brother—provided a meal for them.⁴⁴ He sat them all in order of age which stunned his brothers.⁴⁵ He caused that Benjamin, whom he loved, should be served five times the amount of everyone else.⁴⁶

Then Joseph sent them away again but, unbeknownst to the brothers, had his silver cup placed in the sack of Benjamin.⁴⁷ The sons were all returned to Joseph’s presence where he ordered that the person (Benjamin) in whose sack the silver cup