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(2014) Ethics or moral philosophy, Dordrecht, Springer.

The immanent and the transcendent in Indian ethics

Bhuvan Chandel

pp. 35-46

Indian ethics presupposes a belief in immortality of soul and embodiment of soul from time to time. Different schools of philosophy from the Vedic era to the non-Vedic and beyond have entertained these values and prescribed morally appropriate action (karma) through knowledge (jñāna). – The notions of immanence and transcendence are inherent in the teachings of Indian classical texts called the Vedas. The Vedas contain significant insights into how human life should be lived and what value structures humans should pursue during the course of their life spans. The texts of Vedic ethics are aimed at creating moral consciousness in human beings and building an ideally moral society providing excellence and meaningfulness to human life. To achieve this one has to follow the supreme moral ideal of dharma. The pillars of dharma constitute the matrix of a good life for men and women in a society with distinctly drawn parameters for deciding what is right as against what is wrong. – The Vedas are the supreme authority to delineate on dharma and have been accepted as a treasure of universal knowledge for centuries. The Smritis such as Manusmriti are commentaries which lay down the rules of dharma. The subject matter for both are principles of regulation for good human behaviour and Vedas are the founding texts of these. – It is argued that the mind must control the senses and reason should control the mind and soul should, in turn, control reason. The soul is the supreme decision maker and reason is the propeller. According to Manu Truth exalts the mind. Knowledge and strict devotion to duty elevate the soul and possession of ideas refines the intellect. – The chapter discusses the rules of conduct as given in Yoga Darsana of Patanjali and the ten imperatives of Manu. The teachings of Ŗg Veda and Atharvaveda are delineated in the chapter as containing foundational principles of moral life. The arguments for Varna system as envisaged in Indian Society for functional distribution and ashramas (stages of life) in the biological curve of life are critically examined. – The views of Jaimini, Kumarila Bhatta and Prabhakar Misra upholding the supremacy of Dharma, Nisreya (highest moral ideal) and ahimsa (highest virtue) are discussed in detail as constituting the Universal character of the moral code of humanity. The Arthasastra of Kautilya containing significant prescriptions for the welfare of society and Puruśarthas are examined in detail. The notions of Karma, ātmajñāna, nihsreyasa, gunas, prayascitta, anutapa and tapasya have been dealt with elaborately. The doctrines of Ahimsa and sthithaprajñā as espoused by the Indian tradition constitute the concluding part of the chapter.

Publication details

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-6895-6_3

Full citation:

Chandel, B. (2014)., The immanent and the transcendent in Indian ethics, in G. Fløistad (ed.), Ethics or moral philosophy, Dordrecht, Springer, pp. 35-46.

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