Practical Elements in Indian Philosophy

Abstract

The need to have a recast vision of Indian Philosophy suggests that Indian Philosophy is alienating from masses and it gives the wrong notion that Indian philosophy is oriented only towards spiritualism. Although spirituality is the limited in spiritualism alone. So it is very important to have a recast vision of Indian Philosophy in tunes with applied philosophy and pratical ethics. The beginnings of Indian Philosophy were from the speculative nature of man for several centuries. One remarkable feature of Indian Philosophy is that in its periods of formation, it was largely un affected from outside influence. Although Indian philosophy is highly speculative in content it is also highly practical in nature. This point it is evident from the fact that Indian Philosophy resulted in creating several systems of thought and great international religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. This shows that the reflective spiritualistic thought of Indian Philosophy gradually evolved into a systematic form of religion. The point substantiates the view that Indian Philosophy is equally engaged in both theory and practice. In ancient Indian contexts there was not much difference between thinking and doing Life and thought of sages were running in a parallel manner. The thought finds its expressing through life and the message of ancient Indian philosophy is to turn inwards-Atmannam vidhi – to turn in wards to our own being and act accordingly. It does not proclaim for the denial of life, instead preaches us to rise above the problems by facing them and be spiritual in thought.