20249211397313_38895Vedantic Ethics Notes.pdf

VEDANTIC ETHICS OF TAGORE, VIVEKANAND, GANDHI AND AUROBINDO  Vedantic (Vedas + Vedanta) + Ethics = Vedantic Ethics  Vedas (Religious and Philosophical Text of Indian Philosophy)  Rig-Veda; Sama-Veda; Yajur-Veda and Atharva-Veda.  Vedant...

VEDANTIC ETHICS OF TAGORE, VIVEKANAND, GANDHI AND AUROBINDO  Vedantic (Vedas + Vedanta) + Ethics = Vedantic Ethics  Vedas (Religious and Philosophical Text of Indian Philosophy)  Rig-Veda; Sama-Veda; Yajur-Veda and Atharva-Veda.  Vedanta: School of Indian Philosophy which believes in the authority of Vedas.  It was based on Upanishads and their interpretation.  Its aim was to enquire about ‘Brahman’ (ultimate reality) which was the central concept of Upanishads.  It saw Veda as the ultimate source of information and whose authority could not be questioned.  It emphasized on path of knowledge (jnana) as opposed to that of sacrifice (karma).  Ultimate aim of knowledge was ‘Moksha’ i.e. liberation from ‘samsara’  Some Prominent Scholars of Vedanta Philosophy are as follows:- i. Shankaracharya – Advaita Vedanta ii. Ramanuja - Vishishtadvaita Vedanta iii. Nimbarka – Dvaitadvaita Vedanta iv. Madhavacharya – Dvaita v. Neo-Vedanta – Swami Vivekananda  Ethics:-  Ethics is the branch of philosophy which studies / judges human behaviour on whether it is good or bad or right or wrong.  It is a normative science which gives moral judgement upon human ethics. It deals with value related to human conduct like goodness, rightness, virtue, etc. 1   Vedantic Ethics – Vedantic ethics emphasized on the value of love and welfare for all.  It revolves around the motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which means that ‘The world is one family’.  It focuses on the concepts of universal brotherhood, immortality of the Soul, and the existence of God.  Under this, we study the distinction of four Purushartha i.e., Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.  Self Realization which means to know oneself is one of the important aspects of Vedanta.  It upholds the dignity of Human Being.  Vedantic ethics emphasizes on the Law of Karma i.e. Good action brings good wherein bad action will bring bad consequences. RABINDRANATH TAGORE:- (Born on – 7th May 1861) (Died on – 7th August 1941)  Vedantic Thinker  Humanistic Thinker  Poet Philosopher  Nobel Prize Winner  Composed National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana)  Founded Visva-Bharti Shanti Niketan (school) on 24th December 1918  Tagore was a poet, philosopher, educator, patriot, humanist, and internationalist who can be considered as spokesman for India's soul. If Vivekananda was the philosophical herald of India to 2  America, Tagore was the emotional and poetic vehicle of India's mission to the outside world.  He has revealed the moral and spiritual message of the East to a sceptical and materialist world.  His lyrics have a universal and irresistible appeal. As a result, he is regarded as a global singer.  Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature for a collection of his poetry, Gitanjali, in 1913, making him the first non-European to do so.  He gave importance to both finite and infinite nature of Man.  He emphasized on the Religion of Man.  He believed in the Freedom of Individual.  Tagore was a firm believer in the importance of harmony in one's personality. In his philosophy, ethical behaviour springs from a sense of divine harmony and love, not from a sense of caste duty. He also advocated for the coexistence of man and nature.  According to him, nature is a manifestation of God; it is the harmony with nature, not the conquest of nature that will lead to God's realization.  He sees freedom in a spiritual light. The process of self-realization illuminates the soul, which is the essence of freedom. Because those who rule and those who are ruled cannot realize dignity and human worth, political freedom is a precondition for spiritual freedom. Ethics according to Tagore:-  No place for selfish individualism: In the case of Tagore’s spiritual humanism, there is no place for narrow and selfish individualism. The perfection that an individual attains is not his personal possession. It is also aimed at the benefit of 3  society. So, selfish individualism is sacrificed at the altar of broader spiritual humanism.  Rejection of hedonism and utilitarianism: In pursuing spiritual humanism, Tagore never put emphasis on hedonism and utilitarianism which seek to attain happiness. SWAMI VIVEKANANDA:- (Born on – 12th January 1863) (Died on – 4th July 1902)  Vedantic Thinker  Humanistic Thinker  Universal Religion  National Youth Day is celebrated every year on his birthday  Disciple of Swami Ramkrishna Paramhans  Established Ramkrishna Mission in 1987  Youth Icon  Young Missionary Saint of India  Vivekananda was a Real Karma-Yogi and a Practical Vedantic.  He emphasized on Knowledge, Action and Devotion.  He also emphasized on the Duty for the sake of duty.  He was the propagator of Synthesis of Idealism, Universal Religion, Naturalism and Pragmatism.  According to him, Gyan, Bhakti and Karma can lead a man free.  He supported teaching and learning through mother tongue. 4   Vivekananda emphasized on ‘Gymnastic for the Body, Music for the Mind and Philosophy for the Soul’.  Represented Indian Parliament of Religion held in Chicago on 11th September 1893, where he introduced Hinduism Vedanta and Yoga to the whole world. His First Sentence was “Sister and Brother of America” was well received and highly appreciated.  All Religion bend to the same goal and that is Realization of God. Ethics according to Vivekananda:-  Vivekananda gave a new theory of ethics and new principle of morality based on the intrinsic purity and oneness of the Atman.  Ethics according to Vivekananda was nothing but a code of conduct that helps a man to be a good citizen.  We should be pure because purity is our real nature, our true divine Self or Atman.  Similarly, we should love and serve our neighbours because we are all one in the Supreme Spirit known as Paramatma or Brahman. MAHATMA GANDHI:- (Born on – 2nd October 1869) (Died on – 30th January 1948)  Vedantic Thinker  Humanistic Thinker  Father of the Nation  His birthday is celebrated every year as ‘Gandhi Jayanti’.  Concepts emphasized and propagated by Mahatma Gandhi:-  Swaraj  Truth 5   Non-Violence  Satyagraha  Ahimsa  Swadeshi  Ram-Rajya  Brotherhood  Self-Dependence  Freedom of Man Ethics according to Gandhi:-  Gandhi believed that as human beings, men can never reach the perfection of divine virtues. Still, they should strive with all their strength to follow the virtues of truth, love, nonviolence, tolerance, fearlessness, charity and service to mankind. Men have to uphold the right, regardless of the personal consequences they may face. He urged Satyagrahis to adapt to these virtues.  Gandhi believed that Men should adopt only good means to attain noble objectives. As per him: “No good can follow from bad deeds, even if they are well intentioned.” He believed that the path to hell is paved with good intentions; thus leading to so called “ends and means” debate. It is contrary to the view that bad means can be used to achieve good ends, and what matters is the end. 6 AUROBINDO:- (Born on – 15th August 1872) (Died on – 5th December 1950)  Vedantic Thinker  Humanistic Thinker  Famously known for Integral Philosophy  Aurobindo and All Vedantic thinker whom we have discussed above have preached Love, Universal Brotherhood, Spiritual nature of Men.  According to Aurobindo, Self-realization is the goal of life.  He believed that Religion is the guiding principle of life.  He had full faith in Indian Culture and Values.  He emphasized on the importance of Love for the Nation.  He taught to end discrimination between rich and poor.  He talked about Equality for All.  He believed in God. Ethics according to Aurobindo:-  Utility is a fundamental principle of existence and all fundamental principles of existence are in the end one; therefore it is true that the highest good is also the highest utility. It is true also that, not any balance of the greatest good of the greatest number, but simply the good of others and most widely the good of all is one ideal aim of our outgoing ethical practice; it is that which the ethical man would like to effect, if he could only find the way and be always sure what is the real good of all.  Moreover, the standard of utility, the judgment of utility, its spirit, its form, its application must vary with the individual nature, the habit of mind, the outlook on the world. Here there 7  can be no reliable general law to which all can subscribe, no set of large governing principles such as it is sought to supply to our conduct by a true ethics. Nor can ethics at all or ever be a matter of calculation.  For the ethical being like the rest is a growth and a seeking towards the absolute, the divine, which can only be attained securely in the supra-rational. It seeks after an absolute purity, an absolute right, an absolute truth, an absolute strength, an absolute love and self-giving, and it is most satisfied when it can get them in absolute measure, without limit, curb or compromise, divinely, infinitely, in a sort of godhead and transfiguration of the ethical being. Dr. Ameeta Jaiswal Prof & Head Department of Philosophy Patna Women's College (Autonomous) 8