The book is divided into three parts. Each part consists of various topics selected from a series of essays, which I wrote for different reasons, under different circumstances in my life and spanning across several years.They were the result of trying to find answers to the many questions that came up in my mind from time to time, so the experience has been like a spiritual odyssey for me. Finally the answers fell into place. Though the various chapters in each part may be read independently, hopefully the reader will find I have knitted them together coherently to give the book a fuller sense, if all the parts and chapters are read sequentially. The first part describes how man acquired knowledge. I have therefore named it "The Gathering of Knowledge". The second is called "The Ingredients of the Universe and Evolution", because it gives an insight into space, time, matter and energy and how they evolved matter and life. The aim of the first two parts is to bring about a broader awareness, before discussing the problems faced by the planet due to man's presence. The last part is introspection about us. It places age-old concepts we have about religion, God, good and evil, and morality on an objective basis. This will give the reader the necessary frame of mind and prepare them for the last chapter, which offers some rational solutions to the problems man has created for the planet without any bias in favour of man. This part is named, "The Spirit of Man" in the hope our spirit may rise to the occasion to meet the challenges we are facing today. I consider this last part the more important part. Since the book was born out of my contemplations, I have named it "Contemplations".