Vedantic Ethics of Tagore, Vivekanand, Gandhi, Aurobindo

Vedantic Ethics Overview

• Vedantic Ethics blends the wisdom of the Vedas and the philosophy of Vedanta, focusing on human behavior and morality.
• Vedas comprise four texts: Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and Atharva-Veda.
• Vedanta aims to interpret the Upanishads and explore the concept of 'Brahman' (ultimate reality).
• Emphasizes knowledge (jnana) over sacrifice (karma), with the ultimate goal being Moksha (liberation).
• Prominent Vedanta scholars include Shankaracharya (Advaita), Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita), Nimbarka (Dvaitadvaita), Madhavacharya (Dvaita), and Neo-Vedanta led by Swami Vivekananda.

Ethics in Context

• Ethics studies human behavior to establish good or bad, right or wrong actions.
• It serves as normative science providing moral judgments about conduct and values like virtue and goodness.

Core Principles of Vedantic Ethics

• Promotes love and welfare for all, encapsulated in the motto 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (The world is one family).
• Centers on universal brotherhood, the immortality of the soul, and the belief in God.
• Explores four Purushartha: Dharma (duty), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire), Moksha (liberation).
• Stresses self-realization and human dignity.
• Upholds the Law of Karma, suggesting that good actions yield good outcomes.

Rabindranath Tagore

• Born May 7, 1861, and died August 7, 1941; a multifaceted thinker of humanity and poetry.
• Known for winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for "Gitanjali".
• Founded Visva-Bharati Shanti Niketan school in 1918.
• Advocated for harmony in personality as a core aspect of ethical behavior.
• Believed in the spiritual realization of freedom through self-awareness and advocated for the coexistence of humanity and nature.
• Rejected selfish individualism in favor of broader spiritual humanism, alongside hedonism and utilitarianism.

Swami Vivekananda

• Born January 12, 1863, and died July 4, 1902; significant figure in promoting Vedantic philosophy.
• Established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1887, celebrated as a youth icon.
• Emphasized the integration of knowledge, action, and devotion in personal growth.
• Advocated for a universal religion that unites people towards spiritual goals.
• Represented Hinduism at the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, gaining international attention.
• Defined ethics as a code of conduct rooted in purity of the Atman and serving the Supreme Spirit.

Mahatma Gandhi

• Born October 2, 1869, and assassinated January 30, 1948; known as the Father of the Nation in India.
• Cornerstone beliefs include Swaraj (self-rule), Truth, Non-Violence, and Satyagraha (truth-force).
• Urged adherence to divine virtues: truth, love, nonviolence, tolerance, and service regardless of personal sacrifice.
• Asserted that good means are essential for noble ends, warning against using bad methods for good outcomes.

Aurobindo

• Born August 15, 1872, and died December 5, 1950; recognized for his Integral Philosophy.
• Advocated for self-realization as the ultimate purpose of life and held strong beliefs in Indian cultural values.
• Emphasized love for the nation and equality, arguing for the elimination of socio-economic discrimination.
• Defined utility as a fundamental principle of existence, stressing that the highest good is also the highest utility in ethics.
• Emphasized that ethical behavior evolves towards the pursuit of absolute truth and divine qualities like purity and love.