Hello all,
First of all apologies, for the delay. Having grown up as a kid around various practices and customes unique to this land with several religious and spiritual dimensions to it, I would like to explore the underlying philosophies of these practices. Hence my work in the area in a way will focus on understanding these aspects, weather these practices are just mere traditional customs or but more worthwhile deeds benefiting one and all. For this I would like to get my self equipped with the substantial knowledge as to advocate the cause. For this I beleive that Chinthana is the best platform for me to start of with my ideas of going about this process. In the longer run I would like to work for the similar purpose with better clarity when it comes my vision and direction. I would like to go back to the ancient scriptures and understand the underlying essences of the work not from mere intrepretations alone but to rework on the frame not just on those provided by these previous works alone.This understanding I believe would help us to bring out these philosophies confined within boundaries without reaching out to the mankind beyond aspects like religion, caste etc. This would not be entirely possible for the time being as I m not qualified enough to carry out this process. In this dream project of mine I might not be able to work on everything i wish to, but would like to produce quality in whatever, be it single piece of research I don t mind dedicating my lifetime for the cause. This in turn I believe would make us think and look at things differently facilitating more research of the kind. Chinthana is a platform for me, not only to put across my ideas but more than that to learn from like minded people with similar interests in understanding the thoughts from the roots our ancestors. In this process I hope good quality knowledge is generated from the interactions with one another. I hope to learn and acquire knowledge from all my friends.As I look up to this exciting journey with all you guys , with hope and a lot of expectations I would like to wish all my fellow contributors all the best with their efforts to understand ' Indian Thought- Cinthana'.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Hi everyone
I'm one of the late joiners or the lazy one you may all say. I joined chintana with a thought to put across all my observations of people from different parts of india, as i have been travelling a lot. though the culture is different evrywhere the people somehow hold some basic similarity in their way of living , thinking and expressing. what i have found is that the generation that is old ahave this simple saying that kids of now a days have gone far beyond values n culture n forgotten to respect the olders and elders.... whereas if u consider the ones in middle they hang somewhere in middle they can't give up their culture inherited from their parents nor can they ignore the demands of their children of mordern days. and the youngest of all generation they don't disrespect what their older generations follow , its just that they want to do things differently. i feel i being one of them, is struggling to do the same; infact all of us are trying our best.
now u would wonder where is the psychology here, i find its there u jus need to peep deeper or jus hear all that u have been eavasdropping. i mean have u seen a corporate lady going to office attired in a office suit all westren but still putting sindoor, n some bangals because she is married. its jus like western where they look for the ring we look for these signs. i jus want to say however we turn westernised deep down the indeginous indian thrives... jus got to look in.
thnx for reading
NEHA
I'm one of the late joiners or the lazy one you may all say. I joined chintana with a thought to put across all my observations of people from different parts of india, as i have been travelling a lot. though the culture is different evrywhere the people somehow hold some basic similarity in their way of living , thinking and expressing. what i have found is that the generation that is old ahave this simple saying that kids of now a days have gone far beyond values n culture n forgotten to respect the olders and elders.... whereas if u consider the ones in middle they hang somewhere in middle they can't give up their culture inherited from their parents nor can they ignore the demands of their children of mordern days. and the youngest of all generation they don't disrespect what their older generations follow , its just that they want to do things differently. i feel i being one of them, is struggling to do the same; infact all of us are trying our best.
now u would wonder where is the psychology here, i find its there u jus need to peep deeper or jus hear all that u have been eavasdropping. i mean have u seen a corporate lady going to office attired in a office suit all westren but still putting sindoor, n some bangals because she is married. its jus like western where they look for the ring we look for these signs. i jus want to say however we turn westernised deep down the indeginous indian thrives... jus got to look in.
thnx for reading
NEHA
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
review
hi
I am going to provide a summary of the chapter of the "THE INDIAN MIND" "essentials of indian pohilosophy and culture (1967) by CHARLES A MOORE,also an review of the chapter.I will try to critically look at the moores explaination of indian mind.
I would like to mention here that this blog is created with the objective of understanding indian thought and mind based on the indian understanding(scholars and texts of indian thinkers),moores articles tries to picture western understanding of the east.
Before the beginning of the summary here is an introduction about charles a moore: senior professor philosophy of university of hawwaii, he was known internationally as the innovative and driving force behind the east west philosopher conference,1939 to 1964, held in honolulu which brought together some of the leading thinkers of the orient and occident to exchange ides and to enhance their understanding of other tradition.
summary:
charles a moore,introduction: the comprehensive indian mind,
chapter is an overview about the comprehensive understanding about indian mind which is based on philosphies of indian tradition on the many sided culture throught the ages.he starts with reason for need of understanding of philosophy of indian thought.
criticizes the western view about the indian minds, where they have misunderstood, westerners who have seen in india the source of fulfillment of their own selfish search for power and riches.he criticize the misrepresentation, confusion, misconception about the indian spirit "mind", philosophy, tradition and culture. west have destroyed the spirit of indian, but today its differnt case, it becomes a mistake if we use the loop of west to see india, we must concern ourselves, to understand indian mind need to look into the richnes, profudity, heights and depths of indian philosophy which is grounded in the sociopolitical and economic traditions and culture of everyday life of indian thought. understanding the thought of indian mind one as to have certain attitudes where he will be open minded, coridality to alien ideas and ideals , reconstruction of western misconception about indian thought, genuine understanding is required,should not oversimplifiy things.
philosophy is the main concern in this chapter so he looks into the different period of indian civilization which is carried from 4000 yrs of high level of culture and tradition. he divideds into three periods firstly vedic period he covers up with vedas upanishads, second period this is the period of two great epics the mahabharata and ramayana which are a comvination of history, mythology, and religo-philosophical, third period is sutra period.during this period the great six systems of hindu philosophy were formulated, systematized, and written in terms of the origianl basic texts of these great and greatly varying schools of philosophy, lastly he provides an account on western entry into indian where how the west as effect the indian philosophy. based on the historical account where moores focuses on the philosophical side of indian thought, ends up his article by concluding his philosophical understanding by stating 17 principles of indian thoughts,such as belief in sould spiritual goal of man is moksa, god as the ultimate, monism, karma, reibrth, the degree of tolerance introspective approach to truth, self having the infinitely greater powers, belief idealism, charity, values of soical life,welfare of society, moral purification of knowledge, transforming one's nature in accordance to truth,yoga for spiritual truth and lastly ultimate optimism. this may be and may not be the characterstics of indian thoughtas a whole, but he says it is important for 'understanding' in indian minds.
chalres a moore a intorductor note where his book the indian mind, essential of indian philosophy and culture, which is totally oriented with the pilosophy of indian people,based on the conference 1964, an collective idea about the indian mind is provided in his article, great scholars such as sakesna, raju, mohan datta, swami nikhilananda, mahadevan, s.radkhakrishnan, murti, tara chand,and others this book is published.
as mentioned by moore its important to understand indian philosophy which is the foundation for understanding of indian mind, but the question whiich i would raise here is the philosophy of indians which are mentioned above is based on the vedics, epics and only a philosophy of superiors, where the account provided is by intellectuals who hold good positions, this understanding of philosophy of one part of the indian culture, tradition and religion does not provide an total indian mind. in other words what about the commmon man or minority group, especially such as tribles, and rural unseen minds which are major group of people in indian,as we know india is a vast multicultural country containing very typical and various race, religion, cultural groups and communities. the understanding of the philosophy of which is based on the vedics and epics doesnot provide an detail account about the indian thought, its an half a truth, they dont provide an account on rural settings tribles and minority groups. which is missing in the charles a moore book
kiran
I am going to provide a summary of the chapter of the "THE INDIAN MIND" "essentials of indian pohilosophy and culture (1967) by CHARLES A MOORE,also an review of the chapter.I will try to critically look at the moores explaination of indian mind.
I would like to mention here that this blog is created with the objective of understanding indian thought and mind based on the indian understanding(scholars and texts of indian thinkers),moores articles tries to picture western understanding of the east.
Before the beginning of the summary here is an introduction about charles a moore: senior professor philosophy of university of hawwaii, he was known internationally as the innovative and driving force behind the east west philosopher conference,1939 to 1964, held in honolulu which brought together some of the leading thinkers of the orient and occident to exchange ides and to enhance their understanding of other tradition.
summary:
charles a moore,introduction: the comprehensive indian mind,
chapter is an overview about the comprehensive understanding about indian mind which is based on philosphies of indian tradition on the many sided culture throught the ages.he starts with reason for need of understanding of philosophy of indian thought.
criticizes the western view about the indian minds, where they have misunderstood, westerners who have seen in india the source of fulfillment of their own selfish search for power and riches.he criticize the misrepresentation, confusion, misconception about the indian spirit "mind", philosophy, tradition and culture. west have destroyed the spirit of indian, but today its differnt case, it becomes a mistake if we use the loop of west to see india, we must concern ourselves, to understand indian mind need to look into the richnes, profudity, heights and depths of indian philosophy which is grounded in the sociopolitical and economic traditions and culture of everyday life of indian thought. understanding the thought of indian mind one as to have certain attitudes where he will be open minded, coridality to alien ideas and ideals , reconstruction of western misconception about indian thought, genuine understanding is required,should not oversimplifiy things.
philosophy is the main concern in this chapter so he looks into the different period of indian civilization which is carried from 4000 yrs of high level of culture and tradition. he divideds into three periods firstly vedic period he covers up with vedas upanishads, second period this is the period of two great epics the mahabharata and ramayana which are a comvination of history, mythology, and religo-philosophical, third period is sutra period.during this period the great six systems of hindu philosophy were formulated, systematized, and written in terms of the origianl basic texts of these great and greatly varying schools of philosophy, lastly he provides an account on western entry into indian where how the west as effect the indian philosophy. based on the historical account where moores focuses on the philosophical side of indian thought, ends up his article by concluding his philosophical understanding by stating 17 principles of indian thoughts,such as belief in sould spiritual goal of man is moksa, god as the ultimate, monism, karma, reibrth, the degree of tolerance introspective approach to truth, self having the infinitely greater powers, belief idealism, charity, values of soical life,welfare of society, moral purification of knowledge, transforming one's nature in accordance to truth,yoga for spiritual truth and lastly ultimate optimism. this may be and may not be the characterstics of indian thoughtas a whole, but he says it is important for 'understanding' in indian minds.
chalres a moore a intorductor note where his book the indian mind, essential of indian philosophy and culture, which is totally oriented with the pilosophy of indian people,based on the conference 1964, an collective idea about the indian mind is provided in his article, great scholars such as sakesna, raju, mohan datta, swami nikhilananda, mahadevan, s.radkhakrishnan, murti, tara chand,and others this book is published.
as mentioned by moore its important to understand indian philosophy which is the foundation for understanding of indian mind, but the question whiich i would raise here is the philosophy of indians which are mentioned above is based on the vedics, epics and only a philosophy of superiors, where the account provided is by intellectuals who hold good positions, this understanding of philosophy of one part of the indian culture, tradition and religion does not provide an total indian mind. in other words what about the commmon man or minority group, especially such as tribles, and rural unseen minds which are major group of people in indian,as we know india is a vast multicultural country containing very typical and various race, religion, cultural groups and communities. the understanding of the philosophy of which is based on the vedics and epics doesnot provide an detail account about the indian thought, its an half a truth, they dont provide an account on rural settings tribles and minority groups. which is missing in the charles a moore book
kiran
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Introduction to the Members
Hai Everyone,
Though we have undergone three years of formal training in Psychology, we have focussed only on the western psyche.... and left behind Indian psyche..... which we all members intend to explore in this blog Chithana.
My interest lies is Spirituality linked to Psychology and how our ancient Indian health professionals treated mental illness before the advent of Western interventions in to India. And also on the Question of Reason and Non- Reason and the question on how Non- Reason is merely reduced to ‘Madness’ and ‘Breakdown’. My interest also takes off with a question of the patient- client in the psychiatric clinic in relation to how the institution of mental health refers to Non- Reason?
i wish all the members good luck and a sizzling move towards our goal.
G.M.Subhasree
Though we have undergone three years of formal training in Psychology, we have focussed only on the western psyche.... and left behind Indian psyche..... which we all members intend to explore in this blog Chithana.
My interest lies is Spirituality linked to Psychology and how our ancient Indian health professionals treated mental illness before the advent of Western interventions in to India. And also on the Question of Reason and Non- Reason and the question on how Non- Reason is merely reduced to ‘Madness’ and ‘Breakdown’. My interest also takes off with a question of the patient- client in the psychiatric clinic in relation to how the institution of mental health refers to Non- Reason?
i wish all the members good luck and a sizzling move towards our goal.
G.M.Subhasree
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
About me..
Hello all! I'm Siddesh :)
I don't know EXACTLY where my interests lie. Although, obviously, they do so within the broad realm of Indian Thought.
I seek a refreshing change from all the occidental information which we, at least I, have been blindly absorbing and look towards something which can be applied today to Indians. The first problem which i will encounter is, in defining 'India' - In the days of yore, the conception of 'Bharat' was different from what we perceive 'India' to be today. A related problem will come in actually trying to apply this 'Indian' philosophy and a concept of psyche derived from this philosophy (if that is possible), whatever it may be, to today's 'Indians' - for, as I am seeing and experiencing, there is no ONE India, nor a concept of a homogeneous Indian.
Anyway, it would be interesting to see how I delve into this realm, what, and how much, I am able to comprehend, and how I take it forward (if at all).
Introduction to members.
"No knowledge is new knowledge". Pretty loaded statement, that. It's also a very compelling claim.
In the endeavour of making scientific discoveries, we have continually been moving further and further away from the very wise (oh yes!) teachings of our ancients, remaining more or less convinced of their obsolescence. In recent years, a lot of interest has been revived in the works contained in ancient texts and their interpretation.
Nothing excites me more than launching into an investigation as to the "newness" of the knowledge that forms the basis of modern day psychology by doing as much thorough a reading of the ancient Indian texts (especially the Upanishads and the Vedas) alongside the works of the contemporary experts in the field, as a regular 20-something PG student with sinfully capricious interests can possibly do.
Cheers,
Jyothi Ravichandran
In the endeavour of making scientific discoveries, we have continually been moving further and further away from the very wise (oh yes!) teachings of our ancients, remaining more or less convinced of their obsolescence. In recent years, a lot of interest has been revived in the works contained in ancient texts and their interpretation.
Nothing excites me more than launching into an investigation as to the "newness" of the knowledge that forms the basis of modern day psychology by doing as much thorough a reading of the ancient Indian texts (especially the Upanishads and the Vedas) alongside the works of the contemporary experts in the field, as a regular 20-something PG student with sinfully capricious interests can possibly do.
Cheers,
Jyothi Ravichandran
Monday, December 14, 2009
INTRODUCTION TO THE MEMBERS
Hi, Chinthana is a bold endeavour because despite having studied three years of psychology, all we know is western psyche..this blog i think will sensitize us not only to Indian psyche but Indian notions and philosophies in general .. so brilliant !!
i am really interested in indian psychoanalysis and i would like to make my contributions to the blog in this area.. this of course involves exploring texts such as the yoga sutra so its not exclusively psychology ..
this will be fun
- Hargun
Hi, Chinthana is a bold endeavour because despite having studied three years of psychology, all we know is western psyche..this blog i think will sensitize us not only to Indian psyche but Indian notions and philosophies in general .. so brilliant !!
i am really interested in indian psychoanalysis and i would like to make my contributions to the blog in this area.. this of course involves exploring texts such as the yoga sutra so its not exclusively psychology ..
this will be fun
- Hargun
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