PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS OF LIFE IN INDIAN PERSPECTIVES

Indian philosophy occupies a unique position. It has not only permeated the entire cultural life of India, but has even filtered to the lowest strata of its society. Its origin is not in the thinking consideration of things but in the attempt at reaching the summum bonum of life. It is to be admitted that philosophy rationalizes truths gained in the form of experience belonging either to the sense plane or to the higher domain of spiritual vision. The task of philosophy in the widest sense is undoubtedly the rationalization of experience. The Hindu term ‘darshna’ suggests this close connection between philosophy and experience. It indicated as Prof. Radha Kishnan rightly remarks, ‘a thought system is acquired by intuitive experience and sustained by need of the intellect alone, but to serve the more ultimate India, philosophy originates when the need for emancipation is felt, when not merely entire man with all his faculties seeks something other than the objects of ordinary interest for the realization of his true being. Hindu philosophy thus has its origin not merely in the love of wisdom or the desires to know (Jijnasa), but in the desire for emancipation (mumuksa). The highest end of philosophy, in the west, however, is generally to acquire wisdom for its own sake and not for any practical purpose. But in India the theoretical character of philosophy has been entirely subordinated to its practical aspect, and philosophy is of value not merely because it increases knowledge but only because it bestows salvation. The aim of the Nyaya andVaisesika, of he Samkhya and the yoga, of the Vedanta and the Mimamsa, of the Buddist and the Jaina is the same, viz. the attainment of the highest end and complete emancipation from all types of misery.

Dr. Narain Prakash
Hisar (Haryana)
Nitin Korpal
Sagar (M.P.)