Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.305

c16.305

To sum up: the study of philosophy is by itself a complete and self-sufficient scheme of education and discipline. Philosophy with Hindus is not what William James called "Logic-chopping". It was severely practical in its aim, which was no less than to mould life, its outlook and activities, in accordance with its scheme of values and view of the Universe, its theory of Reality. Its study, therefore, depends, firstly, on some amount of intellectual training and reading of texts by which its particular outlook, aim, technique, and system can be understood. But it depends also on an amount of moral preparation by which is to be created the atmosphere conducive and congenial to the cultivation of a new way of life with its new pattern of conduct and view of values. It must be an atmosphere of peace and quiet, where the mind can remain unperturbed, and is not distracted by unwholesome stimuli, or the crises and turmoils to which life is exposed in its ordinary environment. Such an environment the student of philosophy, the seeker after truth, must create for himself. He must create this heaven on earth by the power of a newly oriented mind, a new world of thoughts, feelings, and attitudes, where he remains unmoved by the facts and events, men and things, of ordinary daily life. He remains oriented to other realities. As De Caussade puts it: "The divine action can only take possession of a soul in so far as that soul is empty of all confidence in her own action." This is an echo of some of the prayers of pupils contained in the Upanishads: "Let my ears listen only to what is noble, and let my eyes see only what is good and pure. Let my body be controlled and my mind be in perpetual prayer, so that I may serve the gods, who represent the glory of the life of the spirit, throughout my earthly career." Again: "May Mitra, Varuṇa, Aryamā, Indra, Bṛihaspati, and Vishṇu give me their blessings that I may fare well on my way to this knowledge. I shall utter only what is in accordance with cosmic law (Ṛita). I shall only state the Truth. Protect me, O God, protect this speaker."