PHILOSOPHICAL SCHOOL OF EASTERN
We have studied many philosophical schools based on western
civilization. In the same way, there are many philosophical schools based on
eastern civilization. Among them, Hindu or Vedic Philosophy is the first school
which describes the eastern civilization. The word “veda” means “knowledge,”
and is derived from the root “vid.” Sanskrit for “know.” In the same way, the
word Hinduism is derived from the Persian word for Indian. It differs from
western religions as it does not have a single founder, a specific theology
system, a single system of morality, or religious organization. One of the
major influences occurred when Indo- Europeans attacked Northern India (1500 to
500 BC) from the grassland of Russia and Central Asia. They brought with them
their religion of Vedism. These beliefs became mixed with the indigenous Indian
native beliefs. The Indus Valley Civilization flourished in Northwest India
from the middle of the third millennium B.C. to the middle of the second
millennium B.C.The civilization was a well developed culture centered around
two major cities, Mohenjo- Daro and Harappa.Indo-Aryans, a nomadic tribe, began
to migrate into this area around 1500B.C., roughly the same time as the
mysterious disappearance of the Indus Valley civilization. The religious
scriptures of the Indo- Aryans, the Vedas serve as the most widely acknowledged
basis for Hinduism.
Founders:
Indo- Europeans extended the name of the province of Sindh to the
whole country lying across the Indus River. The inhabitants were simply called
Hindus, and their religion was thus called Hinduism.
Year founded:
Hinduism does not owe to any single historic event. A complex
religion that has continually evolved and transformed over the course of
millenniums. The beginnings of Hinduism have been dated back to the time in
which the civilization flourished, approximately 2500 B.C.
Hindu Beliefs and
Practices:
Hinduism is the monotheistic principle of Brahman, that all reality
is a unity; the entire universe is one divine body. Brahma the Creator who is
continuing to create new realities. Vishnu, the preservers these new creations.
Whenever dharma is threatened, Vishnu travels from heaven to earth in one of
ten incarnations. Shiva, the Destroyer, is at times compassionate, and
destructive. Simultaneously, many hundreds of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are
worshipped as various aspects of that unity.
Caste System:
The Rig –Veda defined five social castes. Ones caste determines the
range of jobs or professions from which one could choose. Marriages normally
take place within the same caste. One normally was of the same caste as one’s
parents. In decreasing status, the five castes are:
Brahmins (the priests and academics)
Kshatriyas (the military)
Vaishyas (farmers and merchants).
Sudras (servants)
Harijan (the outcasts, commonly known as the untouchables).
Samsara (birth-death)
Humans – as being trapped in Samsara, a meaningless cycle of birth,
life, death and rebirth. Kama is of ones good and bas deeds. It determines how
you will live your next life. Through pure acts, thoughts and devotion, one can
be reborn at a higher level. One can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment.
Bad deeds can cause a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an
animal. The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, and suffering are thus
seen as natural consequences for ones previous acts. Meditation is often
practiced, with Yoga being the most common. Other activities include daily
devotions, public rituals, and puja a ceremonial dinner for a God.
Vedic Philosophy:
The word “veda” means “knowledge,” and is derived from the root
“vid,’ Sanskrit for “know,” reconstructed as being derived from the Pro- Indo
European root “weid”meaning “see” or “know.” Weid” is also the source of the
English word “wit,’ as well as “vision” through Latin. The word “veda,” derived
from western Slavic “vedet” for “know.” Indian Philosophy begins with the Vedas
where questions related to laws of nature, the origin of the universe and the
place of man in it are asked. In the Vedic view, creation is recognized to the
self- conscious of the primeval being(purusha).This leads to the inquiry into
the one being that underlies the diversity of empirical phenomena and the
origin of all things. Nature is taken to have three qualities (sattva, rajas,
and tamas).
Vedas
Vedas regarded as sruti (“that is heard”), form part of an oral
tradition in the form of an ancient teacher-disciple tradition. Historians have
tried to dates to the Vedas but no common consensus. The oldest surving
scriptures in the world. The Vedanta schools of Hindu philosophy state Vedas
are apaurusheya neither human nor divine origin nor are eternal in nature. Veda
vyas is the writer of Vedas. The branches of Vedas are:
Rig- Veda
Yajur-Veda
Atharva-Veda
Sama VedaVedic philosophy of education.
The aim of Indian education was initially laid down by the Vedas.
According to Vedic world view the world is pervaded by divinity and the aim of
every living being is to achieve liberation. This is possible by following
one’s own dharma. Thus, according to Vedas the aim of education is liberation.
According to a famous statement, “That is knowledge which gives liberation.
Therefore, the knowledge is a third eye of man, which gives him insight into
all affairs and reaches him how to act. In the spiritual sphere it leads to our
salvation, in the mundane sphere it leads to all round progress and prosperity.
The illumination given to us by the education shatters illusions, removes
difficulties and enables us to realize the true values of life. There were
three types of educational institutions: 1. Gurukula: -
This, as the name indicates, was the family of the teacher and his
residence where the students used to stay during the period of study.
Gradually, the Gurukula was extended to include a number of buildings. However,
the institution was built up around the family of teacher. The primary duty of
the student was to serve the teacher and his family. The students were like
sons of the teacher and the whole institution lived like a family.
2. Parishad: -
There were bigger educational
institutions where several teachers used to teach different subjects. This may
be compared to a college.
3. Sammelan: -
Literally, it means getting
together for particular purpose. In this type of educational institution
scholars gathered at one place for discussions and competitions generally on
the invitation of the kin.
Sacred or Revered Texts:
The sacred literature of Hinduism can be divided up into two
distinct categories: sruti and smriti.
Shruti:-Shruti, which is heard or divinely revealed, consist of the
Vedas, the most ancient of the scriptures, the Upanishad, the Brahmans, and the
Aranyakas.Shrutis refer to the demonstration of the divine in the world, and
more specifically, the truths revealed by the deities to the early sages or
rishis.The Upanishads are considered to be the most important of the remaining
three scriptures of shruti literature. It is believed that these texts were
secret scriptures taught by a sage to a disciple.
Smriti: - The Epics the Sutras and the Purans comprise the bulk
of the Bhagavad-Gita and the Ramayana. The earliest of these epics
are the Mahabharata, which includes the Bhagavad-Gita, and the Ramayana. The
Sutras contain a number of important texts concerning subjects such as dharma,
yoga and Vedanta. The most important of these texts was the Manusmriti or Laws
of Manu, which deals with Hindu law and conduct. The Puranas are mythological
texts which often told the stories of the gods and goddesses.
Samhitas and Brahmin: - The Mantras are collected called Samhitas.
The four Samhitas are: - The Rik (poetry), Saman (song), Yajur (prayer), and
Atharva (a kind of priest) commonly referred to as the Rig –Veda respectively.
Each Samhita is preserved in a number of versions or recessions (shakhas). The
Rig –Veda contains the oldest part of the corpus. (Collection or written text)
and consists of 1028 hymns. The Sama-Veda is mostly a rearrangement of the
Rig-Veda for musical rendering. The Yajur- Veda gives sacrificial prayers and
the Atharva Veda gives charms, magical formulae.
Other three areas of Vedas
Brahman, the second part is explanation. The age of the Brahmans was
followed by the age of the Aranyakas and Upanishads, philosophical and mystical
texts dealing with the quest for atman, the knowledge of the self. It was
during this period that the foundations of Hinduism were solidly laid. It
explains the Vedas. It is related to the ritual treatises. Aranyakas- it is far
away from the groups of people –tranquility. It is called the forest treatise.
It is related to philosophy “Drisyete anenaiti darsanam.
The Essence of Hinduism:
Believing Vedas as divine creation
Believe in rebirth
OM as a considered as symbol of goddess
Spiritual belief.
Six schools of Hindu philosophy:
Sankhya (“the Count”)
Nyaya (“Analysis”)
Vaisheshika (“the School of individual Characteristics”)
Yoga (“spiritual displine”)
Mimamsa (“Enquiry” or “Thought”), and finally
Vedanta (“the End of the Vedas”).
Samkha
The oldest of the orthodox philosophical systems in Hinduism. Kapil
is the propounder of Sankhya philosophy. Everything in reality stems from
purusha (self or sour) and prakriti (matter). There are many souls and they
possess consciousness, but they are devoid of all qualities. Prakriti or matter
consists of three elements: steadiness, activity and dullness known as the
three gunas, or qualities. Saamkhya is a dualistic philosophy, but there are
difference between Samkhya and other forms of dualism. In the West, dualism is
between the mind and the body, whereas in Samkhya it is between the self and
matter. The concept of the self is roughly equivalent to the western concept of
the mind.
Is deliverance from misery
of this world possible?
Scholars have interpretated in two ways;
Number (shankya) and Gyan (knowledge). It believes that union of
spirit and matter is necessary for the evaluation of the world. Deliverance
from the miseries of this world is possible of secrets of the 25 elements.
Knowledge of secrets:
Prakirti
Vikriti
Prakirti- vikriti
Neither Prakirti nor vikriti.
Vikriti:- hand, leg, speech, anus and genital, air eyes, ear, nose,
tongue, skin, mind, and sky or space, energy, water, prithivi
Prakriti- vikriti
sabda (speech)
Sparsha, (touch)
Ahankar (ego) Panchatantra Rup (form)
Mahat (intellect).
Ras (taste) and
Ghandha (smell)
Educational implication of
Shankhya
The aim of Shankhya – deliverance- the ultimate purpose. Self
(purush)- neither cause nor effect. It id free and eternal. The existence of
god can’t be proved. It is regarded as aesthetics. God –as supreme person and
witness of the cause and effect mot the creator of the world. Prakirti is in
the balance position – no change in the prakirti. If disturbed, some activity
springs forward. There is cause – effect relationship. When the reflection of
purush (spriti) falls on prakirti, the intellect is generated known as Chetan.
An action (karya) is already inherent in cause (karan). That means development
of man is already inherent in him. Education – to bring him the development of
man to the fullest extent. There is a need for his continual education till he
is able to distinguish between matter and spirit.
Curriculum
Admits both physical and spiritual aspects should be developed.
Development of all senses and organs. For the adolescents-difficult subjects
involving reasoning should be taught as ‘self’ is fully grown in this stage.
Language, literature, social studies, physics, mathematics etc. to be include
in the curriculum.
Teacher and Students
Teacher is trustworthy and ideal person. He has vivid knowledge
about purush and prakirti also has knowledge of different quality i.e. guna.
Students
The philosophy believes in many souls. Emphasis the development of
all aspects of life.
Summary
Kapil is the propounder of Sankhya philosophy. There are 25
elements. Salvation is possible only after getting the knowledge of 25
elements. Deliverance is the ultimate of education.
Yoga
Yoga is another school of Hindu Philosophy. Maharshi Patanjali is
the profounder of Yoga philosophy. So some people call it Patanjali philosophy.
Unlike other philosophies it is not only theoretical but also practical.
Healthy body and powerful soul both are the subject of its study. It believes
that the mind can be pure only when the body is healthy and the purity of the
mind will lead to faculty of mental processes. Yoga is somewhat different from
Samkhya. Its primary text is the Bhagavad-Gita Gita, which explores the Yoga,
and Bhakti Yoga. In the Bhagavad-Gita Gita, itself Yoga is described as being
many millions of years old, and is essentially a universal method of union with
the Supreme. For many centuries Yoga practitioners have debated about the
specific nature of this Supreme as Brahman, Paramatma, or Bhagavan
respectively. The most significant difference from Samkhya is that Yoga
incorporates the concept of a personal god, but also upholds Ishwara as the
ideal upon which to meditate. This is either because Ishwara is the only aspect
of the soul that has mot become entangled with nature, or because Ishwara is
the Supreme God himself (depending on one’s point of view). Yoga also utilizes
the concepts of Brahman and Atman found in the Upanishads, thus breaking from
the Samkhya School by adopting concepts of Vedantic monism. Yoga lays down
elaborate prescriptions for gradually obtaining physical and mental control
over the personal self. This occurs until one’s consciousness becomes aware of
one’s authentic self, or atman, as distinct from one’s feelings, thoughts, and
actions. Realization of the goal of Yoga is known as moksha, nirvana, and
Samadhi, all of which hold that the atman is of the same quality as the
infinite Brahman. Patanjali wrote an influential text on Raja Yoga entitled
Yoga Sutra and is often quoted as an authority on the Yoga process.
The main principles of
Yoga:
Control of the aspiration and ambition of the mind. The purpose to
understand the real of the soul. This can be understood when all the
aspirations and ambitions of the mind are controlled. When the mind is not
wandering and it is controlled, the form of god may be realized. To see the form
of the god is yoga meditation.
The aspects of Yoga:
There are eight parts or aspects- Ashtang yoga. By observation of
these aspects, ignorance is wiped off and real knowledge is achieved. After the
perfect attainment of yoga, wisdom is awakened. So the purpose is to achieve
wisdom and to wipe off ignorance.
Yama
Yama means absence. Absence of violence, untruth, stealing
intercourse and seizing is yama. There are five aspects of Yama. They are non
violence, truth, not stealing, continence and mot accumulating excessive
wealth. Never having animosity against any creature is non violence.
Niyam:
There are five rules of Niyam. They are:
Shaunch or purity
Santosh or contentment
Tap or penance
Swadhyaya or continuous study of Vedas
Ishwar Pranidhan or the concentration in god and offering everything
to him.
Asan:
The stability and feeling comfort in a posture is Asan.
Pranayam:
The control of breath while inhaling, keeping it in the lungs for
sometimes and exhaling out are the process of pranayam.
Pratyahar:
Controlling the mind by keeping away the organs or senses from
external attractions. To cut the relationship of the various sense organs from
their respective subjects.
Dharana:
To apply the mind to some internal subject.
Dhyan:
To concentrate attention on a particular subject of the mind.
Samadhi:
Attained when the attention becomes the objective.
Educational implications:
Emphasize the importance of eight parts of Yoga. Yoga practices are
helpful not only for one’s health but for the general uplift of an individual.
Conclusion
The main aim of yoga is to control the aspirations and ambitious of
the mind to understand the real form of soul. Ignorance is wiped off. Wisdom is
awakened through eight aspects-yoga- yama, niyama, asana, pranayam, pratyahar,
dharana, dhyana and Samadhi. Peak of yoga is to get detached from all types of
attributes. God knows everything and to see his form is yoga meditation.
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