Throughout his life, the quest for truth and understanding has compelled author Ramana Das. As a child, the family guru counseled Das to complete his secular education and assured him that "a time will come when a guru will find you." So Das followed the guru's instruction and dove headlong into the world of science, spending years first training and then practicing as a surgeon.

Despite the emphasis on science in his education, Das still felt himself drawn to the truths found in world religions, even though they often left him with many questions unanswered. In" Of God, Life, and...