The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c5.s5.10

c5.s5.10

Then he goes over to the chief thesis. And in this connection he examines the alleged life-denying ideas of the Indians in their working on practical life. To him it is clear that in this respect an essential difference between the “life-denying Indians” and the “life-affirming Westerns” does not exist (*ein wesentlicher Unterschied nicht besteht*). He points to the fact that the political and cultural life of the country was not unfavourably influenced by the life-denying world-view. It is, for instance, established by him that it was just during the period of the unlimited influence of Brāhmaṇism, Buddhism and Jainism that political power, cultural efflorescence and colonial expansion were at their height. He makes it a point also to bring out the fact that Buddha, Śaṅkara and other saints were described by the Indians as men who *eine grosse Aktivität entfalteten* (developed a great activity) and who exhibited “considerable understanding for the most varied spheres of life.”