FOREWORD

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All beings despite so numerous differences in race, creed, geographical locations emplacements, religion, and culture we all still share a uniform ambition to possess happiness. From the moment we landed on this earth, till we depart from it, we all cherish this pursuit for happiness. In fact, it is this pursuit that keeps the planet bustling with activity. Though sharing this common aim, individuals vary drastically in their means to attain it. It wouldn’t be exaggerating to state that as many people are there in this world, so many are the means for happiness. . Day by day across the globe, people enthusiastically devise newer ways to be happy, even if the happiness they attain with effort fades away in no time. It is an astonishing fact that, we spend 99 % of our life chasing for happiness and are left with only 1 % of our life time, to really enjoy that happiness. This disproportion seems very depressing. But the majority has unfortunately accepted to live such a deal.

Yet there have always existed those enterprising few who question this model of life. They end up asking themselves day after day …

‘Are we created only for living such a miserable life?
Are we missing something valuable, enslaved to this way of life?’

These adventurous souls, fed up with the monotonous life of the world, venture to sincerely find answers to the questions that bother them. They eventually come across the bold statements of the wise that declare -- “You are not made to crave for fleeting happiness but are made to live as happiness itself by default”.

These audacious ones will not be satisfied by such mere statements. They will be keen to validate the worth of such statements through personal experience, at any cost. Hence the start of a daring journey , “a journey within”, aimed at securing eternal peace.

The fare we shall pay for this unique journey is faith and the luggage we shall carry till the end is confidence. The stops on this journey include value-based life, selfless service and selfless devotion. As one is saturated with selflessness, he or she will be introduced to a guide who will assist in the final lap of this unprecedented journey. This compassionate guide will introduce the seeker to one’s real nature which is unwavering peace itself. This peace will always be there with us as our originality waiting to be unveiled behind the various masks that we wear from time to time.

The author made a sincere attempt here to introduce this reality to the reader through his book – God's Software
The tendency to share with others, what we have recognized found to be of value for ourselves can be of three types.

I – share it with only those who seek it.
II – share it with near and dear ones
III – share it with as many as possible
The author of this book Prasad RK Chukkapalli, embarked on a path to find unchallenged peace amidst the challenges of day-to-day life. As he was successful in his mission, his empathetic nature prompted him to share his observations on attaining unwavering peace, with one and all.

This book is a manifestation a testimony of to his altruistic love.

Let me briefly touch upon all the chapters in this book, with an aim to inspire the readers to arrive at the practical implications intended for the reader by the author.

Chapter 1: The author makes his intention behind this book clear. He wishes to present the path to sustainable happiness in a package that is appreciated by the current generation. He achieved this by decoding the source code of this life.

Chapter 2: Describes the complexity involved in the construction and functioning of the human body, starting from the very first cell, the zygote. Embryological, anatomical, physiological descriptions of the body are mentioned to invoke our curiosity to know the one behind the intelligent design of this wonderful human machine and the incredible programmer of the operating systems that sustain the human body.

Chapter 3: This answers a question that haunts all those who accept the existence of an intelligent designer of this creation. ‘Why did this magnificent creator, generate a world that bestows happiness for few and misery for many?’ This is the question that puzzles everyone, at least once in their lifetime. Even the so called believers too are haunted by this question. This is answered in this chapter based on the laws of Karma, which are rooted in the theory of the cCause and the eEffect. Newton’s third law and Murphy’s Law mentioned in this chapter will aid the present generation to comprehend this topic with ease. The chapter ends by showing how we are the architects of our own destiny and by hinting on a clue which facilitates everyone to transcend the cycle of the Cause and the Effect.

Chapter 4: Death is considered inauspicious by many traditionalists. They try to shun this topic either out of fear or discomfort associated with that event. But history proves that the concept of death has awakened many heroes like Arjuna, Parikshit, Nachiketa, Buddha and Ramana Maharshi.

The current Chapter aims at a similar awakening, by discussing about what happens during and after death. Apart from scriptures like BhagavadGita and Bhagavatham, works of Mr.Frederic Myers, Erica Simon, Dr.Ian Stevenson and Dr.HelenWanbach are taken into consideration, so that we gain knowledge about this important and inevitable event in the human life and use it constructively for our spiritual evolvement.

Examples of child prodigies are used to strengthen the concept of reincarnation. Understanding about our life is incomplete without understanding the sequences of life that shape the consequences after death. This knowledge will help us to plan and live a happy life both here and hereafter. Hence, researched cases of past life experiences are taken into account to give clarity on this subject of death which the author describes “as the only certainty in this uncertain world”.

Chapter 5: Success of life lies in recognizing the very purpose of our life. It is always better that this recognition happens early in life. Chapter 5 encourages one to recognize this aspect. It enables the reader to plan his course of life in pursuing one’s goals in on the lines of traditional wisdom consisting of purusharthas (goals of life) and chathurashramas (stages of life).Whatever may be our goal or purpose in life, it will invariably be a means to attain happiness. This chapter deals with this cherished state of mind, ie. happiness, which is desired by all. It elaborates on where this happiness exists that humanity ceaselessly chases constantly pursues. Gradations of this happiness and the six enemies that deprive us of our happiness are described explained . The importance of contentment and the easy way to attain it by differentiating distinguishing between wants and needs,is revealed. If terrorism and corona virus are external threats to humanity, there is a greater, if not the greatest, threat that resides within, creating havoc among families and to the planet earth itself. That is anger. This chapter deals with this topic and suggests some practical tips to deal with it. Hints for maintaining healthy relationships are included.

Living a balanced life in a society filled with imbalanced individuals is a challenge that sensible people face. This chapter presents the right combinations and permutations needed for a happy and balanced life.
The most common cause for worry and the easiest solution available to be free from it is presented in this chapter. There always exists a section of society who do not exert in the right way to attain a happy, successful and fruitful life. Instead they try to attain that by resorting to various handy and fanciful remedies available in the market. One such remedy is vaasthu (ancient Indian science of architecture). The chapter ends by discussing about the importance of vaasthu and its restricted role in bestowing success on life.

Chapter 6: The percentage of theists always exceeds that of atheists. Here we have a common question to both these groups – “Do you really know about the God whom you either believe or disbelieve ?” This happens because they are born and brought up in certain tradition which gradually shapes their conviction about the presence or absence of God. The conviction of majority of people about God is unfortunately based on blind belief. Hence it is important to know who is God, before we brand ourselves as believers or non-believers. This chapter aims to give the reader the capability to take a decision on God based on knowledge. The science behind temple worship and how it paves the way to connect with the all-pervading God has been elaborated in an appealing way. The role of image worship or idol worship mentioned in this chapter helps us to understand both the advantage and shortcomings of such worship.

Chapter 7: We all know who we are. But this knowledge is a relative knowledge which is based on something outside us. If we say I am the son or daughter of so and so, I am a Christian or Hindu,etc., we are only revealing our identity in relation to what we are essentially not. Then who am I; what is my absolute nature? The author wants to guide us to recognize our true identity in this chapter.
Because this is a subjective discovery, the one who wants to know his real identity needs to be a genuine aspirant. In this chapter the qualities that we need to comprehend this obvious and subtle truth are mentioned with reference to Nachiketa, a qualified student coming across the Kathopanishad.
We are all blessed with three states – waking, dream and deep sleep. We go through these states throughout our life without caring to use these natural experiences for recognizing the changeless principle, which we essentially are. The easiest way to recognize the reality lies in careful analysis of these three states that we experience day in and day out. Our ancient scripture (Chandhogya Upanishad) laments over the ignorance of the humanity passing through these natural experiences day after day, but still do not care to utilize them wisely to recognize the reality of those states. It goes on to say that passing through these states without caring to recognize their essence is like walking over a treasure day and night, without caring to notice and own it. The process of initiating an investigation based on these three natural states and recognizing their changeless substratum as the import of ‘I’ which we really are, is presented in an academic discussion between an enthusiastic student and a compassionate teacher. King Janaka’s dilemma and sage Ashtavakra’s efficient guidance to make him grasp the ‘changeless I’ by encouraging the King to analyze the disturbing dream he had in contrast to the pleasant waking state, will encourage the reader to apply to their own dreams and wake up to the reality of the ‘I’as infinite conscious existence.

The purport of the famous mantra from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad which states that “the dearest thing for everybody is none other than himself or herself” is explained with beautiful illustrations. The process of recognizing the reality through the method of negation (neti – neti) (elimination process) is presented on the authority of the 7th mantra of Mandukya Upanishad, where we are encouraged to negate all that which is negatable and to accept the residual factor of reality whose negation is impossible.

Chapter 8: The entire humanity is familiar with the term suffering. The cause and severity of this suffering may vary from individual to individual, but its presence as such cannot be negated. Even a newborn child expresses its own suffering with the cry. As the child grows the duration and episodes of crying may initially increase and then naturally decline, but that does not mean that the suffering is on the decline. Then what does it mean? It only means that there is change in the expression of suffering. Instead of wailing aloud, one may wail within which manifests externally as a sense of deep anguish, anxiety, fear, depression, irritability, apprehension, melancholy etc. Nobody likes to harbor this suffering. Hence everybody strives to get rid of it through the means with which they are familiar. In a way, life is incessant effort to be released from this suffering.

At one point in life, all those who are sensible, will be troubled with a common question - “If everyone is trying to be free from suffering, why is it that they do not succeed in their effort?” The answer is simple. They are addressing the problem at the surface and are ignoring the root of the problem which is deep within themselves.

What is this problem that escapes our attention and has found its shelter deep within us? How do we eliminate it forever and be free from this devil of suffering? These questions are answered in the last chapter – Moksha.

May this book inspire all to discover the source code of their life and have access to the changeless peace in this dynamic world of constant change.