An introduction to Indian Philosophy
Satischandra Chatterjee and Dhirendramohan Datta
This book is written for beginners to grasp thoroughly the central ideas of Indian philosophy rather than acquaint us with minute details. Philosophy in its widest etymological sense means “love of knowledge”. Philosophy direct a man to realisation of truth. A man of realisation becomes free one who lacks it is entangled in the world.
Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that studies the fundamental nature of reality. As an eminent English writer puts it:- “Men live in accordance with their philosophy of life; their conception of the world. This is true even of the most thoughtless. It is impossible to live without a metaphysics. The choice that is given us is not between some kind of metaphysics or no metaphysics; it is always between a good metaphysics and a bad metaphysics
Some hold that philosophy should be based on ordinary normal experiences that is on truth discovered and accepted by people in general or by scientist. This is the view of the most modern european thinkers as well. In India, Carvaka school accept this view as well.
The attitude of mind which looks at the dark side of the things is known as pessimism. Indian philosophy has often been criticised as pessimistic and therefore pernicious it’s influences on practical life(for ex: வாழ்க்கையே துன்பம் மயமானது, இறைவன் உங்களுக்கு பிறவா நிலை கொடுப்பார், பொருளுக்கு அலைகின்றபொருளற்ற வாழ்க்கை etc) Except “Carvaka” materialistic philosophy most of the Indian philosophy is have a pessimistic view of life.
Socrates used to say “Virtue is knowledge”. His followers point to tell that near knowledge of what is right does not always leads to right action because our actions are guided as much by reason as by blind animal impulses. Unless these impulse or controlled, action cannot fully follow the dictates of reason. This truth is recognised by all Indian systems. It neatly expressed often quoted Sanskrit saying which means “I know what is right, but feel no inclination to follow it; I know what is wrong, but can’t desist from it”
👉 We should always remember that “Our speech and actions cannot always follow our intellectual convictions because of the contrary impulses deeply rooted in our character moving to the past misconceptions about things and their values”
Branches of Indian philosophy
The books explains the branches of Indian philosophy in two categories.
One which accepts the Vedas and another which rejects the Vedas
Indian philosophies which rejects the Vedas are
1. Carvaka or Lokāyata 2. Jaina and 3. Buddha.
Indian philosophies which accepts the Vedas dominance are
1. Mimamsa 2. Vedanta.
There are sub-branch here i.e philosophies which neither accepts nor rejects the Vedas and formed their philosophies based on independent grounds like
1. Nyaya 2. Vaisesika 3. Sankyam 4. Yoga
Let me give you a highlight of two philosophies that might be important to modern India
Carvaka Philosophy:-
The Word Carvaka means Materialistic. The Caravaka holds that “perception” is the only source of knowledge. They point out that all non-perceptual or indirect source of knowledge like references, the testimony of other persons etc., are unreliable and often prove misleading. We should not therefore believe in anything except what is immediately known through perception.
Perception reveals to us only the material world, composed of four elements of matter air, fire, water and earth, the existence of which we can directly known through the senses. All objects of this perceptible world are composed of these elements. There is no evidence that there is anything like an immaterial soul in vain. Man to is made of wholly of matters. There is of course consciousness in man, but consciousness is the quality of the living body which is a product of matter. It should not be thought that because the element of matter or and conscious, there can be no consciousness in objects made of them. There are many examples in which the quality of originally absent in the component parts or develop when the parts or combined together in a particular way. There are examples even of the same substance acquiring new qualities under different conditions. Bitter leaf, nut, and lime chewed together acquires a red tinge originally absent in the constitutes. Molasses acquires fermentation the power of intoxication originally absent. Similarly, the elements of matter combined together in a particular way gives arises to the living body having consciousness. Consciousness cease apparently within the body. When the man dies nothing is left of him to enjoy or suffer the consequences of his action hereafter.
The survival of the man in any form after the death is, therefore, unproved. Existence of God is also myth. God cannot be perceived. The world is made by the automatic combinations of material elements and not by God. It is foolish, therefore, to perform any ritual rights nearby for enjoying happiness after this life in heaven or for pleasing God. No faith be put in the Vedas or in the cunning priest who earns their livelihood by exploiting the credulity of man.
The highest end of life, for a ration man, should therefore, be the enjoyment of the greatest amount of pleasure here in life. It is foolish to forego the pleasures of life simply because they happens to be mixed with pain.
Carvaka philosophers believes that
👉 Perception is the Main source for knowledge
👉 Inference is not so certain
👉Testimony is not a safe source of knowledge ( knowledge received through testimony from recognised authorities are quite valid when those knowledge can be perceived but knowledge through testimony of unperceived objects are not free from errors and doubts. Very often misled by so called authority. For example, the authority of Vedas or considered as high esteem by many. But in reality the Vedas are the works of some cunning priest who earned the living by duping the ignorant and the credulous. Carvaka Philosophy rejects testimony as a main source of knowledge. But a blind man touching an elephants legs, trunk, ears body will perceive it in a different way not as an elephant as a whole. So testimony of a man who saw the elephant as a whole is valid in this case. This testimony Carvaka philosophy accepts it because when asked to prove the man who saw the elephant will prove it. But in case of sins who say that they have seen God or who talks about concept of soul always failed to prove it)
👉The world and universe are made of elements (“நிலம் தீ நீர் வளி விசும்பொடு ஐந்தும்
கலந்த மயக்கம் உலகம்”- தொல்காப்பியர்-பொருளதிகார மரபியல் 635)
👉 There is no God (The elements and its composition produced the world and its objects. Creator is not necessary. If god created the elements then who created the god?. If God can exist on his own then why can’t the element exist on its own as well?!)
👉 There is no soul (The existence of a soul or consciousness apart from a body is not proved, there is no possibility of proving its immortality. On contrary, death of the body means the end of the individual. All questions about the previous life, afterlife, rebirth, enjoyment of the fruit of actions in heaven or hell, become meaningless)
Ethics:- Indian philosophies believes that the highest goal of human life is heaven that can be attained here after by performing the Vedic rites. The Carvaka rejects this view, because it is based on and proved existence of life after death. Heaven and Hell are unalloyed Bliss. Heaven and Hell are the inventions of the priest whose professional interest lies in coaxing, threatening and making people perform the Vedic rituals.
Sankyam Philosophy:-
According to Sankyam; Purusa- the conscious element and Prakrti- the unconscious element interacts to create all other elements of the universe.
The existence of God cannot be proved in any ways, we need not admit God to explain the world. For Prakrti is the adequate cause of the world as a whole. God as eternal and and changing spirit cannot be the creator of the world.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
