Baba
Dry intellectuals: burden to society
Namaskar
Baba makes the following points about ancient Indian philosophies. It is an interesting and educative read for common masses to analyze what type of study is of practical value in one's spiritual life.
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “The next factor is the theoretician’s psychology. When theoreticians expound a theory they do not study the world to ascertain its practical application. Blind to what is underneath their feet, and with total disregard for reality, they build castles high in the sky. After some time most of the theoreticians’ philosophies fade into obscurity.”
“So many theories have been expounded throughout the history of India. Some of them even had some practical application and, to some extent, met with success. But you will notice that, among the five theist philosophies, the Nyáya philosophy (not the Nyáya of Kanáda but that of Gautama) soars high without having any concern for the practical plane. Therefore, no practical cult was possible on the basis of Gautamiiya Nyáya. In medieval India, many scholars of Nyáya uselessly researched year after year the question [[Pátrádhára taela kiḿvá taeládhára pátra? – “Is it oil contained in a pot, or is it a pot containing oil?”]] This has nothing to do with the real world. Some people may wonder why there was not more development in Pathan India, in spite of a high population of scholars. The reason is that Nyáya philosophy, the philosophy divorced from practicality, had too great an influence on life.”
“There is one more defect in the theoretician’s psychology. Human life is trifarious: physical, intellectual and spiritual. However, the theoreticians remain confined to the intellectual realm, ignoring the physical and spiritual spheres. Thus they make no effort to practically materialize their theories. First, their theories are impractical; second, they make no efforts to materialize them.
“The third factor is inefficiency in the field of application. Even if the theory is correct, it is not materialized due to inexperience or other defects.” (1)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “The second situation is where hypocrisy is not at work, but what is at work is theoretical psychology. The people [involved], while making principles, are utterly oblivious of the realities of the world. They are wanderers in a vacuum, having no touch with the hard realities of the surface of the earth. Such theories shine like lighted moths for a moment and then are lost forever.”
“In India, for instance, such a theory is Gaotamiiya Nyáya Darshan. (This is not to be confused with the logic of Kanada.) The logic of Gaotamiiya Nyáya is purely imaginary. Such a theory cannot result in a practical cult.”
“Great logicians were born in the world in the past. Many in India wasted [valuable time discussing] whether oil in a pot should really be called “a pot with oil as its base” or “oil with a pot as its base”.”
“In Pathan India and the first portion of Mughal India there were big scholars versed in such logic. They were great intellectuals, but could not mould the life of the people with their theories. The intellectual life of the country [became] obsessed with these differing logics and there was no progress.”
“Pure logicians have another noticeable defect. They do not recognize that life is trifarious, that is, physical, intellectual and spiritual. They only emphasize the intellectual side and ignore the physical and spiritual aspects. As such they lack the [will] to put their theories into practice. They make no efforts in that direction.” (2)
In Him,
Prakásha
References
1. A Few Problems Solved Part 6, Theory and Practice
2. Ánanda Vacanámrtam Part 30, Principles and Practice of Philosophy and Cult
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