Spirituality at Work: The Role of Spirituality Dimensions ...
The Realistic Aspect of Indian Spirituality
-
Upload
andres-montano -
Category
Documents
-
view
220 -
download
0
Transcript of The Realistic Aspect of Indian Spirituality
-
8/12/2019 The Realistic Aspect of Indian Spirituality
1/3
THE RE LISTIC SPECT
OF
INDI N SPIRITU LITY
widespread view persists am ong W este rn scholars that th e
spiritual perspective of Indian philosophy is incompatible with ethical prac-
tice and t he ord inary values of life. In this view, Hind uism, especially in
its
non-dualistic aspect, is an otherworldly faith concerned with the salva-
tion of th e individual and leaves the gre at mass of th e people to their fate.
Thi s attitude, it is often argued, accounts for India s poverty, illiteracy, and
gen era l backwardness. If th e world is unreal, as th e non-dualists contend ,
why bother about it?
Let it be stated at the outset that the practicing non-dualists in India are
far out-numbered by the dualists, though the philosophy of non-dualism is
considered the peak of Indian philosophical thinking and its special contri-
bution t o world philosophy. Furthermore, students of non-dualism accept hu-
mani taria n activities as a part of the ir spiritual discipline. Prior t o their re-
alization of
Brahman
undiffe rentiated consciousness, they accept th e re lative
world as real. Th us, they cannot rem ain indifferent to the world or repudi-
ate moral and social values. T h e fulfillment of social obligation s is a condi-
tion precedent for the realization of identity with
Brahman.
Enlightened
non-dualists see embodied souls as manifestations of
Brahman
and devote
themselves to their welfare.
Social values were emphasized in the Vedas.
Their fulfillment is a dis-
cipline for the enjoyment of happiness here and hereafter, which the Vedas
recognize as a universal craving. Hymns were composed by the Vedic seers
in honor of the cosmic order, ethical laws, and social virtues. Th ey never
denied the existence of the physical world and the legitimate pleasures it
offers. O ne finds in the Vedas strik ing hymns abou t marriage, procreation,
a woman s conduct in her husband s house, hospitality, harmony am ong
participants in
a
council, health and vigor, longevity, the duties of a house-
holder, battles and the proper attitude toward enemies, and general pros-
perity. From these hym ns it is appa rent th at the Indo -Aryans of V edic times
lived a fu ll and happy life and did not rep udiate the wor1.d.
The Upanisads, which form the essence of the Vedas, aim to establish the
sole reality of the non-dual
Brahman.
They also emphasize the fact that
the world of name and form is real for the vast majority of people, who
are under the spell of
miiyz
cosmic nescience. Such people sho uld recognize
-
8/12/2019 The Realistic Aspect of Indian Spirituality
2/3
SW MI NIKHIL N ND 65
social values and practice ethical laws. Th us, th e Upanisads extol the virtues
of hospitality, self-contro l, charity, compassion, respect fo r teachers, parents,
and elders, and the legitimate desire for wealth, children, grand childr en,
cattle, gold, food, drink , fame, and happiness on earth and in heaven. Al l
th e teachers of th e major Upanisads were householders. Ygjiiavalkya re-
nounced the world only after having entered into two marriages.
The secondary scriptures of the Hindus, based upon the Vedic teaching,
give priority to social values, though they point out that liberation is the
final goal of life. T h e
RZrnZya?za
expresses th e Indian ideals of filial piety,
chastity, friendship , loyalty, kingly duties, and courtesy to inferiors. T h e
Ma h ~b h Z ra ta
exhorts people to practice truthfulness, justice, amiability,
patience, an d forgiveness. Householders a re asked to preserve the continuity
of the family through procreation. In the
Bhagauad GZtZ
Arjuna is admon-
ished to fight a war t o protect t he stability of society. T h e
Code
o f
~ Z Y
gives a high place to women, though their dependence upon men is not
overlooked. The
A r t h a j ~ s t r a
of Kautilya deals mainly with politics and
diplomacy. Householders a re described in th e H ind u scriptures as the basis
of society. The three most highly prized worldly values are righteousness,
economic security, and legitimate sense-pleasures. Their fulfillment leads
to the realization of the highest value, namely, spiritual freedom. T h e
purpose of the caste system, in its original formulation, was to establish
social harmony, protect the weak from exploitation by the strong, and vin-
dicate the power of spirituality over power based upon military strength,
wealth, or manual labor.
During the dark ages of Indian history, which lasted nearly one thousand
years, when India came under foreign domination, it was loyalty to
dharma
social duties, that preserved H ind u society from total disintegration. T h e
religious leaders of that time were devoted to ma nkin d and tried to improve
the condition of the masses, especially of the untouchables.
In modern India, which dates from the British conquest, the
Brahmo
SamHj and th e A rya Samaj
-
8/12/2019 The Realistic Aspect of Indian Spirituality
3/3
SW MI
NIKHIL N ND
values of life. Hinduism is by no means otherworldly or anti-social in the
usual sense of these words. Indian thinkers have come to grips with reality,
whose meaning, however, changes at different stages in the development
of the soul. They have reflected upon and faced man s real problems of
Life, from his first wandering into the realm of phenomena to his final
liberation, and have exhorted him first to idealize the real and then to
realize the ideal.