A History of Indian PhilosophyThe old civilisation of India was a concrete unity of many-sided developments in art, architecture, literature, religion, morals, and science so far as it was understood in those days. But the most important achievement of Indian thought was philosophy. It was regarded as the goal of all the highest practical and theoretical activities, and it indicated the point of unity amidst all the apparent diversities which the complex growth of culture over a vast area inhabited by different peoples produced. It is not in the history of foreign invasions, in the rise of independent kingdoms at different times, in the empires of this or that great monarch that the unity of India is to be sought. It is essentially one of spiritual aspirations and obedience to the law of the spirit, which were regarded as superior to everything else, and it has outlived all the political changes through which India passed. The Greeks, the Huns, the Scythians, the Pathans and the Moguls who occupied the land and controlled the political machinery never ruled the minds of the people, for these political events were like hurricanes or the changes of season, mere phenomena of a natural or physical order which never affected the spiritual integrity of Hindu culture. If after a passivity of some centuries India is again going to become creative it is mainly on account of this fundamental unity of her progress and civilisation and not for anything that she may borrow from other countries. It is therefore indispensably necessary for all those who wish to appreciate the significance and potentialities of Indian culture that they should properly understand the history of Indian philosophical thought which is the nucleus round which all that is best and highest in India has grown. Much harm has already been done by the circulation of opinions that the culture and philosophy of India was dreamy and abstract. |
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... body of Hindu scholars and ascetics living a retired life in solitude, who are well acquainted with the subject, but ... bodies and private individuals both in Europe and in India large numbers of philosophical works in Sanskrit and Pâli ...
... body of Hindu scholars and ascetics living a retired life in solitude, who are well acquainted with the subject, but ... bodies and private individuals both in Europe and in India large numbers of philosophical works in Sanskrit and Pâli ...
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... body); it practised austerity: it acquired consistency [Footnote ref 2]." In the Atharva-Veda also we find it stated that all forms of the universe were comprehended within the god Skambha [Footnote ref 3]. Thus we find that even in the ...
... body); it practised austerity: it acquired consistency [Footnote ref 2]." In the Atharva-Veda also we find it stated that all forms of the universe were comprehended within the god Skambha [Footnote ref 3]. Thus we find that even in the ...
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... body in states of swoon, and that it could exist after death, though we do not find there any trace of the doctrine of transmigration in a developed form. In the S'atapatha Brâhma@na it is said that those who do not perform rites with ...
... body in states of swoon, and that it could exist after death, though we do not find there any trace of the doctrine of transmigration in a developed form. In the S'atapatha Brâhma@na it is said that those who do not perform rites with ...
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... body and subject to suffering and enjoyment in another world according to his good or bad deeds; the doctrine that the soul of man could go to plants, etc., or that it could again be reborn on earth, is also hinted at in certain ...
... body and subject to suffering and enjoyment in another world according to his good or bad deeds; the doctrine that the soul of man could go to plants, etc., or that it could again be reborn on earth, is also hinted at in certain ...
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... body of man, his various vital functions and the senses, but even arbitrary alphabets were taken up and it was believed that the meditation of these as the highest and the greatest was productive of great beneficial results. Sacrifice ...
... body of man, his various vital functions and the senses, but even arbitrary alphabets were taken up and it was believed that the meditation of these as the highest and the greatest was productive of great beneficial results. Sacrifice ...
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Common terms and phrases
___________________________________________________________________ Footnote Abhidhamma according action admitted âkâs'a appears associated âtman atoms attained avidyâ bhâ@sya body Brahma-sûtras Brâhma@nas Brahman buddhi Buddhist called Caraka cause citta cognition collocation colour commentary concomitance connection consciousness desire Devadatta dharma doctrine dravya effect elements entity essence existence experience external world fire Footnote ref gamaka gu@nas hetu Hindu illusory Indian inference interpretation Îs'vara Jaina Jainism Jains jâti kârikâ karma kinds Kumârila later Mahâyâna manas manifested mâyâ means meditation Mîmâ@msâ mind momentary nature negation non-existence notion Nyâya sûtras object Patañjali perceived perception permanent philosophy pleasure Prabhâkara prak@rti pralaya pramâ@na probably produced pure puru@sa qualities reality rebirth reference regarded relation right knowledge rûpa S'a@nkara Sâ@mkhya sa@mskâra sacrifice Sanskrit sattva Sautrântika says sense smoke sorrow soul stage substance tanmâtras Theravâda things thought truth Upani@sads Vâcaspati Vais'e@sika sûtras validity Vasubandhu Vâtsyâyana Vedânta Vedas Vedic vijñâna Visuddhimagga word Yoga