The importance of physical body in the Indian philosophy

By Santosh Chaudhary, M.Sc (Physics)

Nalanda Open University

Symbolic Physical Body


In Indian philosophy, the physical body is considered significant for several reasons:


1. Vehicle of the Soul: Ancient Indian philosophy views the soul as divine and the body as the vehicle of the soul. This perspective is similar to Plato's thought, which has had a continuous influence on Western philosophy.


2. Impermanence and Suffering: A defining feature of South Asian religious and yogic traditions is the belief in the body's impermanence and its perception as a source of suffering. This suffering typically results from a misguided attachment of the self to its corporeal manifestation.


3. Path to Liberation (Moksha): The physical body is seen as an impediment to attaining liberation (moksha or kaivalya) in classical yoga. However, early medieval Haṭhayoga texts present ontological changes in the perception of the physical body in liberation. The concept of "living liberation" (jīvanmukti), which includes an active human body, emerged during the medieval and post-medieval periods.


4. Realization of Self: The Indian concept of self includes physical, social, and metaphysical self, but the metaphysical self is considered the real self. The objective of human life is to realize this real self.


These aspects highlight the importance of the physical body in Indian philosophy. It's worth noting that interpretations can vary across different schools of thought within Indian philosophy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Significance of the material wealth in the Indian philosophy

Image
By Santosh Chaudhary, M.Sc (Physics) Nalanda Open University Symbolic image for Material Wealth In Indian philosophy, material wealth, known as Artha , is one of the four traditional aims of life, collectively referred to as Purusharthas . The other three aims are Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Kama (pleasure, love, psychological values), and Moksha (liberation, spiritual values). Artha signifies the pursuit of wealth or material advantage. It ensures dignity through food, shelter, clothing, and enough material possessions to live a meaningful life. The pursuit of material comforts helps to maintain social order. However, excessive pursuit of wealth can lead to greed and social disorder. In the philosophical school of Indian Materialism, known as Lokayata or Carvaka , the good is strictly associated with pleasure and the only ethical obligation forwarded by the system is the maximization of one's own pleasure. It's important to note that all four Purusharthas are co...
Read more

The concept of the Atman and the Brahman and the modern physics

Image
  By Santosh Chaudhary , M.Sc ( Physics ) School of Pure Sciences Nalanda Open University The concept of Atman and Brahman is the complete understanding of the parmanent solution of the ultimate absolute of the universe. According to the Upanishads part of Vedas, there are two fundamental entities of the universe along with or without the material world. These two entities are the eternal identities of the material world. The discoveries of the modern physics are still not parmanent. The theories of the modern physics  have been challenged after some period of time or decade or century. Physics is still in progressive mode and the theories of physics are in evolutionary state. Physics has still not declared its completeness. But Upanishads part of Vedas has completed  the further evolution of the Vedas. One can write many commentaries or interpretation of Vedas but further addition of any doctrine in Vedas has been completed by the doctrines of Upanishads. Presently ...
Read more

Concept of Subtle Body ( Shukshma Sharira )

Image
By Santosh Chaudhary , M.Sc (Physics) Nalanda Open University   According to some Hindu traditions, such as Samkhya and Yoga, there is a concept of subtle body ( Sukshma Sharira ) that is distinct from the physical body ( Sthula Sharira ) and the Atman . The subtle body is composed of mind ( Manas ), intellect ( Buddhi ), ego ( Ahamkara ), and vital energy ( Prana ). The subtle body is the carrier of impressions ( Samskaras ) and desires ( Vasanas ) that are accumulated from one's actions ( Karma ) in previous lives. The subtle body is also the vehicle of transmigration, as it moves from one physical body to another after death, until it is purified and liberated by the grace of God or by self-realization. Some Hindu traditions, such as Advaita Vedanta, reject the idea of a separate subtle body, and instead regard the mind, intellect, ego, and vital energy as modifications or projections of the atman. According to this view, the atman itself is not affected by any impressions or de...
Read more