PHILOSOPHY OF THE
ANCIENT EAST
INDIA
PLAN
Origin of philosophical thought. Eastern
and western types of cultural development.
Philosophy of Ancient India (Vedantic
philosophy, Buddhism).
PHILOSOPHY VERSUS
MYTHS
Mythological thinking was based on
reflection of nature and man in the light of
the tribal relations.
Philosophy introduces the system of
knowledge that is based on reason.
PHILOSOPHY ORIGIN
Philosophy originated in the following
three centers of the ancient civilization: in
ancient Greece, India and China, what
happened almost simultaneously in the
middle of the 1st millennium BC.
Specific features of reference to nature
Western cultural tradition Eastern cultural tradition
active transformation careful and religious
and mastering of reference to nature and
nature by man everything alive
development of the very
Achievements in the
nature of man
realms of techniques,
the moral-spiritual
technologies and improvement of a
science personality
Social life and Social values
Western cultural tradition Eastern cultural tradition
the idea of historical no intention of
progress, development progress
of society in the line of
preserving the culture
ascent
the values of as it is
democracy, legal state, the values of a
freedom and community and
sovereignty of an limitation of the
individual individual freedom
Spiritual psychological features of man
Western cultural tradition Eastern cultural tradition
feelings, emotions,
logical style of thinking,
cold mind, sober elements of the religious
pragmatism and practicism and artistic world-
perception
"divide and rule" unity and indivisibility of
Rational thinking everything
Philosophical treatises Intuitive and mystical
thinking
Philosophical parables,
aphorisms, and
instructions
Indian philosophy
Ancient Indian philosophy includes the
mystical treatises known as Upanishads
(700 – 100 BC), early Buddhist writings
(300 BC – 500 AD) and the Sanskrit poem
Bhagavad-Gita (Song of God, about 200
BC). Classical Indian philosophy is less
concerned with spirituality than ancient
thought
Outlook ideas of Indian philosophy
ultimate reality is one-eternal and impersonal Absolute
the variety of apprehensions, which comes to us through
the senses is illusory and is called mãyã
Man must rid himself of his illusion if he is to become
aware of reality (brahma)
This "knowing" is not a mere intellectual knowledge, but
an enlightenment of one's whole being
If one fails to find this "release" (moksa), one is bound by
the law of punishment and reward (karma) to return to
this world in a further incarnation, still tied to the wheel
of rebirth (samsara)
REINCARNATION
Reincarnation, the view that after death human
beings live again in other forms
Bhagavad-Gita:
"We have all been for all time: I, and thou, and those
king of men. And we shall be for all time, we all
for ever and ever"
"As a man leaves an old garment and puts on the one
that is new, the Spirit leaves his mortal body and
then puts on one that is new"
KARMA
the sum total of the acts done in one stage
of person's existence, which determines his
destiny in the next stage
a form of matter, which can contaminate a
soul and postpone its attaining Nirvana
the doctrine that whatsoever a man sows,
whether in action or thought, the fruits will
eventually be reaped by him – if not in this
life, then in the next
Caste division of Indian society
Brahmin caste – the first or the highest caste,
comprising the priests (fr. Sanskrit Brahman –
worship);
Kshatriya caste – the second caste, comprising
warriors and rulers (fr. Sanskrit kshatra – rule);
Vaisya caste – the third caste, comprising
farmers and merchants (fr. Sanskrit – peasant);
Sudra caste – the fourth and the lowest caste,
comprising manual workers (fr. Sanskrit sudra
Three groups of yoga steps
Moral discipline – against killing, lying,
stealing, sexual impurity and possessiveness, and
towards purity, contentment, study and God –
centeredness.
Physical disciplines – control over bodily
posture, breathing and excitation of the senses.
Stages of meditation – concentration,
contemplation and ecstasy (unity).
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
1) Sorrow is the universal experience of mankind.
2) The cause of sorrow is desire, and the cycle of
rebirths is perpetuated by desire for existence.
3) The removal of sorrow can only come from the
removal of desire.
4) The desire can be systematically abandoned by
following the Noble Eightfold Path, which is
the basis of the disciplines of Buddhism and
finds its origin in the corresponding yoga system.
