Abstract
42 DCL
CLAI 2012
Dr. V Vasanthakumari
ADVAITA VEDANTA AS A MANOEUVER
IN EMBODYING CULTURAL IDENTITY
Abstract
The unity in Vedantic
thought is underlying the apparent diversity of race religion, language,
philosophy, art and custom in the life of Indian people. Man has to begin from
his own Self, the cosmic spirit is to be realized within one’s own being that
is the true import of adhyātma which in fact is the most solid foundation of
Indian culture. Vedic ideals of ‘world as one single nest’ (“yatra viswam bhavatyekanidam ) and the vedic concept of ‘togetherness and co
operation (Samgaccadhvam samvadadhvam) are in fact even deeper and wider in approach.
The aim of human life which
the people are inspired to pursue, determines the fundamental dimension of
their culture. Culture is the totality of life, inclusive of philosophy,
religion, art, science as well as the human relationships. In Sanskrit, the
term for culture is ‘Samskriti’ which signifies the sum total of human efforts
that are purified and refined. ‘Culture’ has been defined as “transformation of
the uncultivated to the cultivated humanity, the concretization of the possible
system of human aspiration. By assuming
culture as one large sphere to which all others belong as sub spheres, with
regard to that global sphere are posited the universally valid concepts and
criteria. It is necessary to examine what exactly is the aim of life proposed
by Advaita Vedanta and how it can influence the right direction of the Indian
culture. The ideas of Advaita Vedanta
are not only depicted in communal synthesis but also accepted that all religious
paths are right and they also lead to the same ultimate Reality.
This paper discusses
some fundamental elements of
Indian Culture reflected in Advaita Vedanta
that are universal in character and could provide a powerful and solid
base to a new world order in the coming millennium.
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