Environmental Consciousness and the Nine Schools of Indian Philosophy

Environmental Consciousness and the Nine Schools of Indian Philosophy PDF

Author: Vandana Sharma Diya

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2023-09-28

Total Pages: 361

ISBN-13: 1527541320

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This book presents an analytical exposition of the ‘Nine Schools’ of Indian philosophy, extrapolating ‘Environmental Ethics’ from the profound metaphysics of these Nine Schools, which serve as the cornerstone of a life lived in wisdom. This book uses the popular contemporary word ‘Environment,’ with the meaning expounded by the Vedic texts. Therefore, it includes the internal, external and cosmic states of all the creatures of the world, and relates them to the universal laws of creation, preservation, and annihilation of every existence following the path of the cosmic order (Ṛta). It argues that realization of the fact that all entities in the world are illuminated by the same Universal Spirit is also necessary. While the book emphasizes the external environmental woes of the world, such as deforestation, animal cruelty, pollution, climate change, and more, it also underscores that these are merely manifestations of humans’ internal perverted environmental states. Thus, humankind should not look at external issues that are limited and temporary, but should focus on the longer-lasting internal transformation.

Nature in Indian Philosophy and Cultural Traditions

Nature in Indian Philosophy and Cultural Traditions PDF

Author: Meera Baindur

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-05-19

Total Pages: 229

ISBN-13: 8132223586

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Working within a framework of environmental philosophy and environmental ethics, this book describes and postulates alternative understandings of nature in Indian traditions of thought, particularly philosophy. The interest in alternative conceptualizations of nature has gained significance after many thinkers pointed out that attitudes to the environment are determined to a large extent by our presuppositions of nature. This book is particularly timely from that perspective. It begins with a brief description of the concept of nature and a history of the idea of nature in Western thought. This provides readers with a context to the issues around the concept of nature in environmental philosophy, setting a foundation for further discussion about alternate conceptualizations of nature and their significance. In particular, the work covers a wide array of textual and non-textual sources to link and understand nature from classical Indian philosophical perspectives as well as popular understandings in Indian literary texts and cultural practices. Popular issues in environmental philosophy are discussed in detail, such as: What is ‘nature’ in Indian philosophy? How do people perceive nature through landscape and mythological and cultural narratives? In what ways is nature sacred in India? To make the discussion relevant to contemporary readers, the book includes a section on the ecological and ethical implications of some philosophical concepts and critical perspectives on alternate conceptualizations of nature.

Consciousness in Indian Philosophy

Consciousness in Indian Philosophy PDF

Author: Sthaneshwar Timalsina

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2008-10-27

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 1135970920

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This book centers on the analysis of pure consciousness as found in Advaita Vedanta, one of the main schools of Indian philosophy. Written lucidly and clearly, this book reveals the depth and implications of Indian metaphysics and argument. It will be of interest to scholars of Indian philosophy and Religious Studies.

The Spirit of Indian Philosophy

The Spirit of Indian Philosophy PDF

Author: Nikunja Vihari Banerjee

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2023-10-13

Total Pages: 381

ISBN-13: 1000982858

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First published in 1975 The Spirit of Indian Philosophy provides a systematic overview of Indian philosophy. The book is divided into four major parts dealing with Indian epistemology, Indian metaphysics, Indian ethics, and Indian philosophy of religion. It makes a departure from usual method of investigating Indian philosophy by dealing with its different schools individually and separately. It discusses themes like sources of cognition; nature and criterion of true cognition; problem of error; materialism; realism; dualism; Indian theories of causation; reflective morality; the ethics of non-violence; Indian atheism and Indian religion of God, to argue that the usual conception of Indian philosophy in general as religious, spiritualistic and pessimistic is contrary to the fact, that the doctrine of Karma, transmigration and rebirth, strictly speaking is incompatible with the Indian ways of thinking and in deed is an imposition upon them ab extra. This is an essential read for scholars and students of Indian philosophy.

Indian Philosophy and Meditation

Indian Philosophy and Meditation PDF

Author: Rahul Banerjee

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-11-10

Total Pages: 169

ISBN-13: 1351389289

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India has a rich tradition of meditative practices designed to study the phenomenon of consciousness. From the distant past to the present, India has evolved a unique psychological culture with grand unifying themes and universal modes of meditative practice. This book provides a detailed analysis of classical and modern Indian views on consciousness along with their related meditative methods. It offers a critical analysis of three distinct trends of Indian thought, viz., a dualistic mode of understanding and realizing consciousness in Hindu Sāṃkhya, an interactive mode in early Buddhist abhidhamma, and the evolutionary transformational mode in the teachings of the twentieth-century sage Sri Aurobindo. This book explores the unifying features in Indian first person practices with regard to consciousness and the importance of these applied psychological practices and their associated understanding of our conscious inner lives. The most striking feature of the work is that side by side theoretical exposition of consciousness, it includes a number of worksheets which explain how to use meditation to achieve relaxation as well as cognitive ‘maps’ of the different levels of conscious states and instruction and how one can traverse from one state to another. The final chapter explores Sri Aurobindo who introduced new and decisive Indian spiritual thought and practice to India in the form of Integral Yoga. This innovative book will be of interest to scholars studying Indian philosophy, Indian religion and the emerging field of contemplation studies.

Hindu-Buddhist Philosophy on Conflict Avoidance & Environment Consciousness

Hindu-Buddhist Philosophy on Conflict Avoidance & Environment Consciousness PDF

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2018-06

Total Pages: 384

ISBN-13: 9788183284936

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Driven by the myopia of profits and an ego that craves superiority over fellow brethren, man is leading a life of wanton devastation, and going through what is perhaps the most violent time in history. At stake is not just our own lives and values, but the environment that sustains us, and, by extension therefore, the very future of our planet. Is this a one-way street? Or is there still scope for salvation? Can we redefine ethics to suit the broader common vision of all mankind? Can we rise above religious differences to create a common, working philosophy that works for both us, and our planet? If the tenets and essence of Hinduism and Buddhism are anything to go by, the answer is a resounding yes. Adaptation of a non-conflicting paradigm led by the Hindu-Buddhist values-whose adherents account for more than one-fifth of the world's population and cognates cultures such as in India and Japan-can be used effectively to shift the focus from 'conflict resolution' to 'conflict avoidance' and the path of 'ideology' to 'philosophy'. It is with this aspiration and conviction that the VIF, New Delhi organised a conference in collaboration with Tokyo Foundation and IBC on 'Global Hindu-Buddhist Initiative on Conflict Avoidance and Environment Consciousness' at New Delhi. This book, based on the conference attempts to answer one simple question: Can we offer a new model and vision for a world order based on democratic tradition that espouses the spirit of human cooperation, ethical behaviour, universal responsibility and prosperity of all nations? If we put our best foot forward, the answer could be yes. The alternative, is not an alternative.

The Indian Mind

The Indian Mind PDF

Author: Charles A. Moore

Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass

Published: 2008-01-01

Total Pages: 474

ISBN-13: 8120832795

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The question, according to George P. Conger, noted authority on Indian philosophy, is not so much whether India can contribute as to whether the West is ready to receive. Here, in selected essays from the proceedings of the East-West philosophers' Conferences, is an examination by world authorities of one of the oldest, richest, most complicated, and most profound philosophical traditions of all time. The intimate relationship in the Indian perspective between philosophy and life is revealed. Common misunderstandings concerning Indian philosophy are exposed, and the marked kinship between India and the West is emphasized. The essays which comprise this book, since they are technical in themselves and written by experts in their special areas, meet the needs of the educated reader generally, as well as the technical expert.

Metaphysics

Metaphysics PDF

Author: Roy W. Perrett

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-10-15

Total Pages: 401

ISBN-13: 1135702667

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First Published in 2001. Part of the Indian Philosophy collection of readings, this volume focuses on Metaphysics. The complement to pramdna theory is prameya theory. Wherea s th e pramdnas are the means of knowledge, the prameyas are the knowables. cognizable entities which constitute the world. With respect to the number and kinds of such entities, there was a very wide variety of opinion among classical Indian philosophers. Moreover, since according to most Indian systems knowledge of reality is at least a necessary condition for liberation , these metaphysical disputes were taken to be of practical as well as theoretical import.