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A Journey into the
Pathways of Philosophy
By
Dr. N C Ramanujachary
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Philosophy
is a subject that cannot be ‘taught’ like any other one. It is an art,
a science and the same time a craft. It is the quintessence of life,
living, existence, and knowledge about knowing. We shall see how various
men of philosophy have defined and detailed the term earlier.
Pathways towards the knowledge are many. They are varied
according to the times and space. Historically and
geographically the ways of acquainting with the knowledge have
changed, adapted systems and arrived at conclusions however
they are parochial. Ways and avenues may be many but the
undercurrent of study is the same. It is the Oneness or
togetherness of the being, the manifestation. Pathway can be
direct or circuitous. It is a perception of each individual
being and naturally changes from person to person. That is one
of the reasons to say that there are as many pathways to the
Ultimate as the number of jeevas
is.
Coming
to the point of journey, it must be noted at the outset that it
is obligatory, though prima-facie it appears optional. One must
do it very intelligently, brilliantly, purposefully if the
end-point is to result in a Perfect being.
An
interesting point for consideration is: who is it that makes
the journey? For a first look, it appears that the human being
is the person undertaking the journey. But who is this human,
other than a by-product of the processes of Life. It is the
Life that is searching for forms for its expression all the
time and outliving them each time. The journey is intended to
finally find out the best/perfect situation.
It is proposed to study this subject under six topics as
below:
-
Meaning and content of the term Philosophy
(in the context of Western thought and Eastern view)
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Philosophic studies in the Orient
(including the radical systems and reformations)
-
Vedanta and Brahmanical Systems
(Wisdom as ultimate of human development and progression)
4. Spiritual insights and Intuition
(Study of Human principles, bodies and higher possibilities)
5. Ultimate purpose of Humanity
(Study of Life-processes and the Obligatory journey)
Now we shall proceed with the study of the topics. The
division of topics as such
is only for purposes of a detailed and analytical
understanding, but it must not be forgotten that they are
interrelated and totally connected to the theme.
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