Indian Thought

The rivers of Indian thought and philosophy, as well as the life, culture, and literature of India, originate in the dim beginnings of a distant past. At times, they changed their course, sometimes dried up, but they retained their essential identity. This persistence is not necessarily a virtue; it can easily signify stagnation and decline, which I believe it has long represented. A nation under foreign rule seeks refuge from the present in the dream world of bygone eras, finding solace in visions of former greatness.

Neither intellectual nor any other form of greatness can emerge from a foundation of lack—lack of freedom, opportunity, or the struggle against famine and poverty. Mature nations and civilizations seek inner substance and fulfillment, both spiritual and physical. Where external and internal life meet or are closely aligned, balance and stability prevail; when they diverge, crises arise. The hymns of the Rigveda are filled with the beauty of the external world, with nature, exuding joy of life and vitality. The gods are very human, descending and mingling with mortals. The spirit of thought and inquiry awakens, and the mystery of the transcendental world deepens. A turning away from external manifestations of existence emerges, and the spirit of detachment strengthens as the gaze turns to unseen realms.

In India, as elsewhere, the two directions of thought and action—acceptance of life or withdrawal from it—developed side by side, with emphasis shifting between the two. Yet this culture was not fundamentally rooted in otherworldliness or in the doctrine of the world's meaninglessness. Even when the world was regarded as an illusion, the concept was not absolute. The world was understood as it is, life was lived, and efforts were made to enjoy its multifaceted beauty. Every flourishing era of Indian civilization has been characterized by joy in life and an enthusiasm for nature, by the pleasures of existence, the development of art, and a refined exploration of human relationships. Such vibrant and rich life would be unimaginable for a people solely focused on the afterlife and rejecting earthly existence. A culture fundamentally oriented toward the beyond could hardly endure for millennia.

Some believe, however, that Indian thought and culture essentially represent the negation rather than the affirmation of life. Indian culture has never emphasized the denial of life, although some of its philosophical schools leaned in this direction. Buddhism and Jainism, for instance, emphasized withdrawal from life, and during certain periods of Indian history, people fled from life in large numbers, entering Buddhist monasteries. Even the concept of nirvana was far from the notion of nothingness, although it has sometimes been misunderstood as such. It was a positive state, but since it lay beyond the boundaries of human thought, it was described in negative terms. If Buddhism—a quintessential product of Indian thought and culture—were merely the denial of life, it would have profoundly affected the millions who follow it. The evidence from Buddhist countries, however, suggests otherwise; the Chinese people, for example, stand as an outstanding example of the affirmation of life.

Indian thought has always emphasized the ultimate goal of life. While never losing sight of the transcendental aspect of existence, it affirmed life fully and refused to become its victim. It advocated impartiality in the affairs of life and action rather than abstention from them. It teaches that one must maintain the proper balance and proportion between the visible and invisible worlds. If one becomes too entangled in action within the visible world, the unseen realm is neglected and recedes into obscurity, and action loses its ultimate purpose. The Indian spirit emphasizes the reality of existence, depends on it, and remains connected to it. It eschews dogma and revelation, favoring an experimental outlook rooted in personal experience. Such experience, when related to the unseen world, differs from that of the visible, external world. It is as if the spirit leaves the known world and enters another realm.

This outlook was thus not dogmatic but experimental, seeking to uncover for itself what lies behind the external manifestations of life. In India, philosophy has been an integral part of the religion of the masses, fostering a philosophical mindset. This philosophy has been a profound and complex endeavor to understand the causes and laws of all phenomena and to seek the ultimate meaning of life. For the masses, philosophy was much simpler, yet it provided a sense of purpose, an understanding of cause and effect, and the courage to face challenges without losing composure.

For a long time, poverty and immense suffering have been the constant companions of our people. Yet they laugh, sing, and dance, refusing to lose hope.

 Dzsaváharlál Nehru "India felfedezése", Európa Könyvkiadó, Budapest, 1981