Since time immemorial, the search for the ultimate truth and the impulse toward perfection has been the persistent endeavor of the awakened minds of humanity. This quest to discover the immutable reality that is the source of the ever-changing universe and to realize the unity underlying the innumerable variations has been accelerated by the great thinkers and sages throughout history. In the series of such gifted thinkers of rare insight we have with us Shri Vethathiri Maharishi, whose revelatory and intuitive vision forms the subject matter of this treatise.

Science and religion today have reached a point where we cannot proceed further in a productive and cogent way without answering certain fundamental questions like:

* What makes the universe tick?
* Of what substance are the fundamental particles made? What is Gravity?
* Where, of what and how does consciousness originate?
* How many gods are there? If the answer is one, which mighty power is to be taken as God?

This treatise of Shri Vethathiri Maharishi provides logical, elegant, and conclusive answers to the above questions and hence assumes a great significance. By his insight and intuitive vision, Maharishi reveals here the innate and intrinsic qualities of space. So far, neither science nor philosophy has fully realized the true potentials of space, and hence the contents of this treatise on Gravity and Consciousness have far-reaching implications for both fields.

For the religious philosophers the message of this exposition is: the God you are searching for is nothing but space, and for scientists the message is: the Gravity you are searching for is nothing but the same space. As a physicist, at this point I would like to make the observation that the message of this book for scientists is of particular import in an historical perspective. In the history of physics there have been only two great minds - Newton and Einstein - whose original vision and concepts provided fundamental bases for others' work to go forward. Newton's axioms and concepts gave the first platform for the study of physics; after two hundred years this platform was modified and extended by Einstein's radical re-definition of space, time and matter.

Now, roughly one hundred years after Einstein, Maharishi's revealed inner vision that space itself is Gravity provides a much-needed third base for science to progress further. His assertion that "Pure space is itself the all-powerful principle, Gravity," has all the potential of supplying the missing links in cosmology, and may thereby remove the gaps in our understanding of the origin and functioning of the universe.

Due to the lack of realization of the `gravity of Gravity' and the `conscientious consciousness', science is facing today certain fundamental questions with no answers in sight and religions, far from practicing love and compassion, compete with each other to impose their belief systems on people, resulting in mutual conflicts and tragic consequences. Maharishi observes "As the truth is hidden, the philosophers say God is unknown and scientists say that the space is vacuum. So far, they have not realized that space itself is Almighty and transforms into universe." In this observation lies the essence of this treatise.

I am sure that the message of this book from Shri Vethathiri Maharishi, which is the condensed wisdom of his inner voice, will create a new awakening among both laymen and scholars. May the understanding and assimilation of the revelations expressed here lead us all, as the Upanishad says: "From the unreal to the real and from darkness to light." May the truth that every self is a transformed state of the space, the Almighty, enlighten our consciousness to its perfection so as to deal with everything "properly, harmoniously and compatibly".

In this small volume I have expressed my concept of two fundamental subjects : Gravity and Consciousness. An understanding of both these subjects is essential for the enlightenment of knowledge of mankind. Ever since humankind became desirous of knowing the wonderful function of Nature, these two subjects have come under search and research. But still the search has not been successful. Why? Because these two subjects and their functions are almost beyond the reach of man's mind and senses. A great many people have written about their ideas and concepts on these two subjects; I am also one among them. Perhaps my exposition may induce new ideas in some scientists, which will open fresh possibilities toward the realization of Truth and innermost secrets of Nature.

I conclude with my heartfelt blessings and best wishes to all the readers.

Dear friends! I convey my good wishes to all of you. I am grateful to you for patiently reading this treatise on Gravity and Consciousness.

I wish to inform you of my status: I am not a scientist; nor have I studied philosophy under any eminent scholar. My eagerness and perseverance in the realisation of Truth made it possible for me to know some hidden facts about the Nature by intuition. As it is general trait of human nature to wish to reveal any important discoveries about Nature to others, I have also ventured to express my findings and concepts.

I humbly request the reader to forgive me if there is any fault in the exposition or in the language.

All may be blessed by Almighty with good health, prosperity and peace.

Nuclear weapons undermine democracy by placing the power to destroy the world as we know it in the hands of a very few individuals. If these individuals make a mistake, everyone in the world will pay for it. If terrorists gain access to nuclear weapons or biological weapons, humanity will be terrorized by a few irresponsible terrorists who have no respect for lives or ethics.

Nuclear weapons have drained resources, including scientific resources, from other more productive uses. All of these misspent resources represent lost opportunities for improving the health, education and welfare of the people of the world.

Readers of this play or those who have the good fortune of seeing this drama being enacted will agree that this philosophical drama is a humanistic statement. One has to agree with Maharishi's vision and foresight that if humanity, and in fact all life forms and the planet itself, are to be saved, there is no alternative but for all the nations to come together to outlaw atomic bombs and even the concept of war itself and amicably settle their competing claims and rights through peaceful negotiations and discussions.

The medium of drama or play can reach a larger audience and have a greater impact than an article or a book, which can only cater to intellectual sections of the society. By staging a play, even less educated and illiterate people living in remote villages will come to know about the dangers of nuclear weapons.

Humanity should ever be grateful to revered Maharishi for his concern and compassion in producing this powerful play half a century ago.

Dear friends, respected religious leaders, scientists, political leaders and social reformers. I wish all of you healthy, prosperous and blissful life.

This is my introduction to the drama, "Atomic Poison", originally written in Tamil and published in the year 1957. My idea in publishing this drama was to make the leaders of the society and the educated class to understand the great danger of atomic bombs - the bombs that today are freely handled by several countries with their national ego to suppress and frighten other nations into submission.

It is not a valid or just solution when a mighty nation holding an atomic bomb frightens other nations. In light of the rapid development of technology and remote controls, in the near future it may be possible that an atomic bomb can even be detonated in the place of its storage. No nation or scientist is able to state with assurance that such a technique cannot go to the hands of terrorists.

All war is absolutely unjust towards the human race. Atoms are formed in the evolutionary process by the selfcompressive force of the Almighty Nature itself. These atoms become the five elements ( Pancha Bhutas ), associating to form all the planets floating in the mighty space. Among the planets of our solar system the earth is one small planet. Mankind is living on this land for thousands of years. No one in the world has ever created a gram of soil, or an ounce of water, or a cubic inch of air, but all these belong to mankind living on this planet.

Nobody can claim ownership of a part of the world or any rights over the natural evolution. Why then should any man be an enemy to torture and destroy others? Enmity that formed over small issues in the beginning gradually developed over time into terrific and horrendous wars, destroying a section of the population on the earth several times. The conflicts that increasingly developed between the heads of nations brought us to the use of atomic bombs used to destroy mankind on a vast scale in the name of winning a war.

Although the common people could not at first understand the dangerous poison contained in the atom bomb, the scientists have always known very well about the dangers. But, unfortuna tely, even today the scientists are keeping quiet and still allowing the atomic bombs to proliferate. Today, only scientists can save the world from the dangers of atomic poisons and atomic bombs.

In the year 1984, while travelling in U.S.A. I read a magazine article that disclosed a terrible fact: that the stock of atomic bombs then in the hands of the mighty nations was enough to destroy the world two hundred times over. From that day onwards we can imagine how many more atomic bombs would have been made, and furthermore we know that by technological development the atomic bomb has been increased in its destructive power many times over. If this trend goes on in the same way, what will be the fate of humanity?

The Almighty, which is the basic principle of evolution of the universe and all living beings contains the natural xvi providence of inexhaustible Plenum, all power, omniscient consciousness, and time; these four are inherent and inseparable in all the evolutionary processes. Man also is evolved of, by and from these four.

Such a powerful and wonderful creature is man, a part of Nature, a fraction of the Almighty, God. Accepting this truth, all can realize that man should not have any kind of enmity towards others in his life. In this understanding we should all study the justice of Nature and obey its principles, respecting all people.

Hence, my aim in bringing out this drama is to induce the reader to have sufficient awareness to respect all human beings on the earth, not to hurt the body or mind in any way and to help others in all possible ways. I earnestly request the compassionate religious leaders, leaders of social welfare, those with political influence and conscientious scientists who know the value of evolution of the universe and mankind, to think deeply and save the world by immediately stopping manufacture of atomic bombs and their use.

To bring this into effect there is no alternative but that all nations join together and make a resolution outlawing war on the earth. This resolution may be easily carried out through the U.N. and enforced by empowering the U.N. We know the difficulties in destroying the stocks of atomic bombs presently stored with several nations. It is the heavy responsibility of the world's scientists to destroy or deactivate all the atomic bombs. I herewith humbly request the leaders of all nations and all my readers to give your sincere and heartfelt consideration to the question of survival of the future generations of mankind.

Dear friends, philosophers, national and religious leaders, scientists and research scholars!

I have great regard for your interest in serving mankind. I wrote this drama, Atomic Poison, in the year 1957. This is the translation brought out for the sake of our friends who are committed to global welfare.

No one in the world likes war. Yet it is continued by superstitious habit, resulting only in destruction of cultural values and all real prosperity of mankind. As one of the world citizens, I could not bear the thought of continuance of war and the use of atomic weapons. I wanted to share my deep thoughts and feelings with all of you and this book is the expression of that. As you all are really global citizens, I am confident you will concede the validity of the arguments brought out here and of the final judgement delivered at the conclusion of the drama.

Nobody has manufactured a gram of soil, an ounce of water or a cubic inch of air. Why, then, should man think he has to fight with others? What is the reason? I say, it is a social hypno tism, spread and continued since ages in human society. Each one of the world citizens has the right to change or transform the world from this kind of madness to enlightened awareness to bring out the love and compassion in the hearts and minds of all people. It is said that mighty weapons can win a war and vanquish enemies. It is only an illusion that any war is won; rather it only increases the number of murderers in the society.

Man is gifted with such talent that he is able to find suitable methods to safeguard himself and face and neutralize the inimical conspiracies of others. You all would agree that my humble statement has been proven correct in many instances in the world so far. War started from primitive ages. No war ever brought success to mankind, rather it results in annihilation of cultural values. Now we have come to the stage to think deeply whether war should continue at all, ever, in the world. If your decision is to stop war and bring peace in the life of mankind, that will be possible only by associated concepts and actions as global planning. It is not difficult for mankind to join and make the universal dictum that "War is Outlawed on Earth" if we change our policies and economic value system for the greater benefit of mankind. It is easier to stop all war than to continue to maintain the habit of war.

This is a noble and divine responsibility for each and every citizen of the globe. The time has come for mankind to realize that enmity and war will lead to deployment of atomic weapons even by remote control. The nature of the human mind is to work with full potential of love and compassion. Even when one person is suffering from a small pain in the finger, how much it reflects in the minds of the observers! Is it not cruelty to continue to witness wars that destroy thousands of people in minutes, making them and their families suffer endlessly?

I need not elaborate further about these feelings and ideas; I end with a request that all of you, to spare a few minutes to think deeply and come to a decision to ban the manufacture and use of atom bombs. I am sure that you, the thinkers of the world, will share my feelings and decide to make efforts to save the world without war.