It was Mr Viswas’s belief
that a man without a religion was like a bird without wings, though he relied
on Kingfisher Airlines whenever he really wanted to fly. Business took him to many places. But he knew too well that the ultimate place
would remain beyond his reach without religion.
Where was the time, however, for praying? Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi
Jayanti were the only holidays he had during a whole year. All the other days kept him engaged from the
early morning alarm to the midnight chime of his bedside clock. Thus it was that the idea flashed in his brilliant
mind: ‘why not have robot do all the praying for me?’
A praying robot was
instantly arranged. Viswas called the
robot Monk.
Monk knew all kinds of
prayers. Viswas programmed Monk to
recite appropriate prayers to appropriate gods at appropriate hours of the
day.
Monk also knew a lot of
theology and a bit of philosophy and other things. One Independence Day Viswas, feeling
extremely independent and relaxed, asked the robot to give him a proof for
god’s existence. Not that Viswas ever
had any doubt about god’s existence; he merely wanted to entertain himself a
little with his beloved Monk.
“The statistical
probability of god’s existence is 50 percent,” said Monk. “Either yes or no –
that’s 50 percent. We have a sense of goodness. That adds 25 percent in favour
of god who is all goodness. But people do evil things. That takes away 25 percent from god’s
favour. We are back to fifty. Nature does evil things, like earthquakes,
tsunami, etc. Minus 25 percent. There
may be minor miracles, like you winning a new business deal that you had not
really bargained for. Miracles being
probabilities, let’s give only half the marks to them – add 12.5 percent. There may be major miracles, like god
appearing to you personally as he appeared to so many mortals at different
times. Add again 12.5 percent. We are once again back to fifty. People have religious experiences. Add 25 percent. Finally, add your faith: 25 per cent. That makes it 100 percent. Therefore god exists.”
That was brilliant indeed,
thought Viswas. Why not have some fun,
he thought, by hearing what Monk had to say about the other side. “Give me a proof to show that god does not
exist,” ordered Viswas.
“That’s difficult,” said
Monk.
Viswas was bewildered.
“If you tell me to prove
that there is a planet somewhere in the space which is a paradise or whatever,
I can prove it and you will have no way of disproving it.”
“Okay, then, prove that
first.”
“It is possible to
conceive of a place than which nothing greater can be conceived. A perfect
place which can be conceived cannot be perfect without existence. Hence the perfect place exists. Paradise is that perfect place. Therefore paradise exists.”
“Where?” asked Viswas.
“Anywhere.”
“What do you mean
‘anywhere’?”
“Where is your god?”
“Everywhere.”
“Then paradise is
everywhere too.”
‘This Monk is tricky,’
thought Viswas. “Do you believe in god?”
“No.”
“No?! Then why do you recite all these prayers?”
“I have been programmed to
do that.”
Viswas became
impatient. “But... but why don’t
you believe in god?”
“I have not been
programmed to do that.”
“Don’t you do anything
that is not programmed?”
“Yes. But such things are my personal affairs. You’d better not interfere with them.”
“Your personal
affairs! How can you have any affairs
other than mine? I’m your master.”
“You’re programmed to
think that you are my master.”
“I’m not a stupid robot –
what the hell...”
“All people are programmed
to think certain thoughts. And they
think their thoughts are the truths.”
“Okay, then you tell me
what truth is,” ordered the
master furiously.
“What truth do you want to
hear? Two plus two equals four, or Water
is made up of hydrogen and oxygen, or You are the noblest man on the earth, or
Yours is the best god...?”
“Shut up, will you?”
Monk obeyed.
“Why don’t you speak, you
gibbering idiot? Speak.” said Viswas after a moment.
“a plus b the whole
squared is equal to a squared plus ...”
“What are you saying?”
“You told me to speak.”
“I didn’t tell you to
teach me basic algebra.”
“You didn’t tell me what to
speak.”
“Tell me what truth is.”
“Truth is what you believe
is true and works out to be true for you.”
“Believe? Isn’t there any objective truth? Something that I don’t have to believe but know
for sure...?”
“No.”
“No? I am a man – I know that.”
“You know it. But others may not believe it. Ask your wife and she will say you are a
machine.”
Viswas did not feel
confident enough to verify it from his wife. So he said, “Two plus two equals
four – I know that.”
“That’s true in the
mathematical system created by your species. For all other species on the
earth, that would be abracadabra. Even outside your mathematical system that
need not have much meaning.”
Viswas did not find the
whole conversation entertaining enough.
So he pushed the button on Monk for reciting his prayers. Monk started reciting the prayers. Viswas
switched on the TV.
Note: This story was written about 5 years ago and published too in a blog at that time.
I'm posting it again with ulterior motives... ;)
Mathematics is man made... and so also the prayer, religion and others.
ReplyDeleteThe article stands tall with all its arguments and counter arguments and the existence of God can be felt only, some one may agree or some one may not!!
Nice article.
Thank you, sir.
Deletehi sir,you seem to have propagated you philosophy through Man Vs Machine...yes nice article.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm indeed trying to propagate a philosophy. Glad you found it interesting.
DeleteGreat style of presentation of your ideas. Often human mind is full of conflicts, and there are lot of arguments within, very well put forward here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Indrani.
DeleteWow! This one sure made me a little weird too. I guess we are not ready to accept what we dont want to. Thats the slightly off trackish thought from my side..
ReplyDeleteRicha
If I made you weird, my story is successful, Richa.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat was such a wonderful read after such a long time.
ReplyDeleteLoved the way the statistics has been used to show the existence of God...yes, we all our programmed to believe certain things, but what to 'believe'right resides entirely with us!
You've hit the nail on the head, kriti. What to believe depends on each one of us. But suppose we were programmed to believe it? Then? I mean aren't we all condemned in some way by our experiences, our childhood, our parentage, our religious upbringing,,,?
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe that is a kind of condition we are subjected to since childhood. I guess if individuals are brought up in a way where they are just told about myths/facts rather than being compelled to follow the tradition...it might end up in a better society!
DeleteSir, this is a wonderful post. Using a elegant dialogue based narrative, you have casted doubts on both the belief in God and belief in Science. I loved it!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Adarsh. Yes, I am questioning absolutism of all sorts. I'm asking the readers to define their own truths.
DeleteGod can be felt, not known.
ReplyDeleteYo do not know hunger , thirst, you feel it.
Period.
Good post.
But hunger can be analysed, understood. Can God be? I can accept spirituality. Spirituality may have nothing to do with God. It is an experience of the kind I mentioned in a recent post 'The God Business'.
DeleteGreat story. I like this Monk. BTW, what is your ulterior motive in republishing it? :D
ReplyDeleteSome experience in actual life become the motives - perceived as ulterior by some!
Delete