Anirban Ray and God behind the Firewall.
Jenue’s Journal has the pleasure of interviewing Anirban Ray. I’d like to begin this interview by saying that it’s so refreshing to see a great piece of fiction that also has a spiritual meaning behind it. The book is titled God behind the Firewall.
Is this book for all faiths and religions?
Yes. God Behind the Firewall is not about faith, religion, or beliefs. On the contrary, it is about opening our minds to new possibilities, ideas, concepts, and understanding. It is about understanding and accepting the truth, as opposed to creating a veil of delusion in our minds that we commonly refer to as ‘belief.’
How did you make a connection between technology and spirituality?
Science and technology helps us understand the world around us. However, our perception of the world is limited by our senses and the capabilities of technical equipments that we have built as an extension of our senses. In other words, we do not fully understand the world we live in … yet. Spirituality helps us take a peek beyond such limitations. Effectively, it is about understanding oneself completely and realizing the limitations of human experience. However, it is important to note that what was spirituality yesterday is scientific knowledge today (although partially), and what is spirituality today could well be scientific knowledge tomorrow.
Arun, the main protagonist, is a brilliant programmer who works in the computer security industry. As he researches the possibility of building an Intrusion Detection System with built-in artificial intelligence, his mentor tells him to ‘feel like God.’ Arun, not only becomes the creator of a new possibility, he also finds ‘godliness’ within him and the people he interacts with.
Can you tell us more about Arun’s battle with his personal addictions?
Arun, while working in the United States passes through a phase that is more aptly termed as the ‘dark night of the soul.’ He battles with the trinity of greed, anger, and lust and eventually realizes that he is merely trying to satisfy his ego—a delusion that keeps us from realizing the ‘godliness’ in us.
What would you say to someone who says there is no God?
God is a concept and the perception of such a concept is only limited by the limitations of our human manifestation. Believing in the concept of God without realizing what it means is merely a ‘belief’, and so is atheism (a ‘belief’ about not believing). What is important is to open our minds to new possibilities, as opposed to holding on to beliefs without questioning them.
Do you have any tips for new writers?
- Be a creator. Create a world of your imaginations and help others take a peek into it. And while you do so, shut off the ‘physical’ world as we know it. Be focused.
- Drop your ego. You know nothing. Take professional advice. Get a professional editor.
- Keep learning. You need lots of input to create something of value.
- Love what you do, and do it with love.
Jenue: To find out more about Anirban and God behind the Firewall please visit his blog. Anirban, thank you so much for taking this interview. Your book will help people, of all faiths, grow stronger spiritual roots and that… is a golden gift.