The Indian Philosophy (general introduction and characteristics) PART 1

The primary aims of this 'Article' are as follows:

- To clarify and correct certain misunderstandings about Indian philosophy that have been propagated by Western scholars and some Indian scholars. It is crucial to dispel these misconceptions in order to gain a proper understanding of Indian philosophy.

 

- To differentiate philosophy from religion in the Indian context. This unit will demonstrate that, strictly speaking, philosophy and religion are not interchangeable terms. Moreover, certain fundamental philosophical concerns that were developed in the Indian tradition diverge significantly from their Western counterparts.

- To present the fundamental principles of Indian thought in a clear and concise manner for the better understanding of the subject.

INTRODUCTION

        Welcome to my blog on the general introduction and unique characteristics of Indian philosophy. Philosophy, in the Indian context, is intricately tied to the concepts of Darshana and Tattva which is also are so called synonyms of philosophy in Indian context. The etymology of darshana is दृष्यते अनेन इति दर्शनम्। meaning "the one through which it is seen. The word 'it' suggests the ultimate reality, means in Indian view philosophy is not just about observing the world, but about realizing its true nature. This realization is akin to knowledge. Now let's uncover what does Tattva stands for.

  The word tattva, derived from "tat," meaning "that" and "tva," meaning "you,". Etymologically speaking it suggests " you are that." Now what does "tat" really wants to elaborate? Only that? No. It implies about the ultimate reality or else metaphysics (knowing ultimate reality) so, tattva really means that the knower and reality are one and the same. This blurring of the line between subject and object leads to a unique approach to philosophy that places value not just on the subject matter of philosophy, but on philosophy itself.  It is important to note that this approach to philosophy outgrew its etymological roots and developed into a rich and complex system of thought. In this system, the identification of the knower with reality leads to the emergence of axiology, or the study of value. 

          Indian philosophy, therefore, is not just a way of understanding the world, but a way of understanding the value of the world and our place in it. Its unique approach to philosophy has given rise to a rich tradition of thought that continues to influence thinkers around the world. Now let's look at how the philosopher himself observes the world.

A PHILOSOPHER'S PERSPECTIVE OF REALITY

           Indian philosophy offers a diverse range of arguments regarding the nature and true meaning of reality, which can be classified from two different perspectives:

               First one distinguishes between secular and spiritual theories of reality, and further divides them into physical or non-physical and theistic or non-theistic. 

             Later perspective distinguishes reality into monistic, dualistic, non-dualistic, and pluralistic theories of reality based on the number of substances considered to be real.

Now understanding and defining reality itself is a hard work, and it has even led to some hot debates among scholars, it is a complex task, but it can be understood as the ultimate source of everything that is independent and itself doesn't have any source of creation!!. Ancient Indian thinkers proposed a plethora of theories regarding reality, which resulted in a proliferation of different views. Contrary to popular belief, not all Indian philosophers regarded reality as purely spiritual or solely secular. Many recognized that reality can have both spiritual and secular aspects, and they did not neglect either of them.

Further, the divisions of secular and spiritual theories are mutually exclusive and exhaustive, meaning that physical and non-physical theories are separate from theistic and non-theistic theories. However, any combination of a secular theory can be combined with any spiritual theory without contradiction. As a result, four combinations are possible: physical-theistic, physical-non-theistic, non-physical-theistic, and non-physical-non-theistic. The Sankhya and Vaisheshika schools of thought regard the mind as a physical entity, unlike in Western philosophy where it is often considered non-physical.

The Indian philosophical systems can be broadly divided into realism and idealism, with realism regarding the external world is the ultimate reality and idealism  seeing the external world as a derivative of the mind. The Yogachara school of thought is an example of idealism 

 Now the second percpective is based on the number of substances considered to be real, with:

  Monism asserting that reality is one.

  Dualism positing the existence of two substances.

  Pluralism acknowledging the existence of more than two substances. 

The Advaita school of thought is non-dualistic, as it negates dualism and does not make any assertion about the number of substances. (non- dualistic) 

The intersection of the former and Latter perspectives yields twenty-four different systems of thought, which demonstrate the complexity and variety of Indian philosophy.

         The spatio-temporal factor plays a crucial role in determining solutions to philosophical problems. Despite the differences, the questions posed by Indian philosophers regarding reality and knowledge are similar to those posed in the Western tradition.

KNOWLEDGE 

The pursuit of knowledge is not unique to humans, as animals also possess the instinct to seek knowledge. However, the extent of knowledge that can be acquired varies among different species. Moreover, the motive and concept of knowledge also differ across cultures. Indian philosophy, for instance, regards knowledge as mainly instrumental rather than intrinsic, with the exception of the Charvaka system that is similar to epicureanism. 

In contrast to the ancient Greeks who believed in "knowledge for the sake of knowledge" and the post-renaissance principle of "knowledge is power," ancient Indians had a different mindset. While medicine and surgery developed to meet practical needs, astronomy and mathematics developed for unique reasons, neither purely spiritual nor purely mundane, in order to perform yagas to meet practical ends and yajnas to achieve spiritual gain. 

Indian philosophy recognizes knowledge at two levels: Para Vidya, which is higher knowledge or spiritual knowledge, and Apara Vidya, which is lower knowledge or practical knowledge. While the former is considered to be true knowledge, the latter is still recognized as a valid form of knowledge. 

             The thing is that there has been a hermeneutic blunder in understanding Indian philosophy because some critics have mistakenly identified it as not distinct from religion. This has led to the view that there is no philosophy in India worth the name. However, it is important to note that the so-called Hindu dharma is not a religion alone, but rather a way of life that emphasizes values and spirituality it is what makes us feel Indian,  it has no bars for people, sects, belief, caste, etc.The confusion arises when scholars mistake religion for spirituality.

Indian philosophy aims to integrate spiritual life with worldly affairs by emphasizing the importance of righteous means (Dharma) in acquiring wealth (Artha) and satisfying desires (Kama) in order to attain liberation (Moksha). The Purusartha scheme provides a framework for achieving a balance between spiritual and secular goals. 

In social and moral philosophy, Indian philosophy adheres to the law of parsimony, which means that it seeks to provide simple and effective solutions to complex problems. Overall, Indian philosophy recognizes the importance of both spiritual and secular aspects of life and seeks to integrate them in a meaningful way.

Thank you for reading part 1 of my series of philosophical discussions on Indian philosophy. I hope that this post has provided you with a better understanding of the complexity and nuance of Indian philosophy, and has sparked your curiosity to learn more. In the upcoming posts, I will delve deeper into specific aspects of Indian philosophy, exploring its various schools of thought, its relationship with spirituality, and its relevance to the modern world. I believe that an appreciation of Indian philosophy can provide valuable insights into the human condition and help us navigate the challenges of our time. I look forward to continuing this journey with you and invite you to share your thoughts and insights as we explore the true essence of Indian philosophy together. Stay tuned for part 2!