Rabindranath Tagore M A PHILOSOPHY SEM I CONTEMPORARY

Rabindranath Tagore M. A [PHILOSOPHY] [SEM I] CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY A UNIT II (a) DR. PRIYA M VAIDYA

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL(I) • Why evil…like asking why imperfection? • Is evil absolute? /Banks of rivers…flux • The idea of God that man has in his being is the wonder of all wonders. • Error by its nature –cannot be stationary – cannot remain with Truth • Evil-its essence is impermanence –for it cannot accord with the whole.

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL(II) • Evil is ever moving-with its incalculable immensity. -it does not clog the current of our life (earth/water/air-remain the same). • Life as a whole never takes death seriouslydeath is not the Ultimate reality • We see Truth when we set our mind towards the infinite-consciousness of the whole. • Evil cannot altogether arrest the course of life and rob its possession (page 52)

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL(III) • Evil has to pass on…it has to GROW INTO GOOD. • Man does not really believe in the evil-the potentiality of perfection is tremendous • If existence was an evil-it would wait for no philosopher to prove it • Our will, character. . grows when we overcome evil…inside or outside-our moral life also has its fuel to burn

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL(IV) • MAN: MORE IN TRUTH THAN IN FACT. • SELFISHNESS HAS TO BE UNSELFISH (BAND OF ROBBERS EXAMPLE) • To live in perfect goodness –is to realise one’s life. • The Universal in the individual –exploration necessary (pain , disease, poverty-not absolute)

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL(V) • FOCUS: • Not saved troubles –freedom to take trouble for his own good-to make the trouble an element in his joy. • Pain-true wealth • When pain for SELF-GRATIFICATION-THAT SHE BECOMES EVIL • [PAGE 65]

THE PROBLEM OF THE SELF Individuality…unique Infinite in the individual Separateness of the Self (seen in suffering etc) SELF AND SACRIFICE (pg. 71) Wise: Set yourself free…gain freedom when we attain our truest nature. • Freedom of the seed –is attainment of its dharma…casting off. . transcends himself • • •

THE PROBLEM OF THE SELF • In perfect love-we see freedom • Freedom in action …. important • Meaning of our Self-ceaseless realisation of Yoga –of union –not on the side of the canvas where it is blank…but where the picture is painted. • When avidya removed…Self comes to us with a wealth which is priceless/Self-deathless

Self… • Interesting approach. . desires of approach • To enjoy. . pleasures…other. . unconscious…wish for health … • Harmony required…the wise knows it …unity maintained. • Social body…reaching out…transcends • Path to higher Self • Emancipation of our physical nature/in attaining health/our social being-goodness/Self –in attaining love • Love leads to illumination…awakening…of the infinite.

Self • Negative freedom…freedom of the Self willhas freedom to some extent only • Finite on our negative side • Evil is not infinite • Chess player (pg. 86) • Self has to go through renewals. . God’s love • Need to follow the eternal rhythm • Life is immortal

Self • It has to gain by its loss and rise by its surrender. • Revelation of the Infinite which is endlessly new and eternally beautiful in us and gives the only meaning to our Self.

Realisation in Love • We do cross the infinite at every step, and meet the eternal in every second. • With truth –there is this appearance which is the opposite of truth-but how they come to exist at one and the same time is incomprehensible. • There is a bond of harmony between our two eyes-which makes them act in unison. • Continuity of relation in the physical world-thus opposites bring harmony not confusion

Unity… • Principle of unity is the mystery of all mysteries. • Seeing One in the essence • Mystery…not in law but to explore the spirit • E. g. as in music, as in poetry. • Poetry transcends any laws…Law is the first step towards freedom and beauty is complete liberation. Beauty harmonises in itself the limit and the beyond-the law of liberty

Unity… • Relation of human heart with Nature… • In the great office of nature there are innumerable department with endless work going on…flower…pg. 100 • Beauty becomes its own qualification • Slave and free thing. . • In Nature…Servant…

Unity • The human soul is on its journey from the law of love, from discipline to liberation, from the moral plane to the spiritual. • The joy of living in Brahma (pg. 106)-love for all -universal good will • Love is the truth of all creation-heightening of our consciousness into love and extending it all over the world-that we can attain Brahma – vihara-communion with this infinite joy.

Love…is not utility • Love is spontaneous…love in our own heart necessary • Utility is temporary and partial. It can never occupy our whole being. • Love-as an end in itself • Making use of the world-gross approach • List/greed/love for comfort…lowest value • He is a Spirit apart from being the body…(pg 110)

Love…. distracted by desires • Desire distract our scope of self-realisation • Inner most barrier-keeps us away from the spirit • True view of man-through love for him • Civilisation can sustain on love and justice • No domination • Throb of the soul –life of the whole world in his own soul –then is he free.

In love… • All the contradictions of existence merge themselves and are lost • Only in love- unity and duality…not at variance. • Love must be one and two at the same time. • In love- loss and gain are harmonised. • Credit and debit –in the same column • Love=personal and impersonal-ego-aspect • Love is most free and at the same time bound. • God-bound to man (Vaishnav religion approachpg. 115) -joy everywhere…realisation of oneness…our soul with the supreme lover.

REALISATION IN ACTION • When there are no bonds-where there is the madness of licence –the soul ceases to be. • Soul finds its freedom in action-soul cannot find freedom with itself alone…. distant. . yet –to-be. • In the midst of activity…alone will thou desire to live a hundred years. • Nature…activity…joy. . within and without(pg. 122)greater than his present. • To work –we must love

Action… • Balance between the within and the external. • Dharma-not neglect of duty • The soul is to dedicate itself to Brahma through its activities. • This dedication is the song of the soul-this is its freedom. • Joy reigns when all work becomes the path to the union with Brahma-grows more and more intense.

Action & God • He who thinks to reach God by running away from the world, when and where does he expect to meet him? • How far can he fly-into nothingness itself? • Realising the Self through work. • Everyday work-in truth, in beauty, in orederliness…gives expression to the infinite

Holiday in work • …Naturalness has not yet been born in us that we tend to divide joy from work. • Our day of work is not our day of joy- for that we require a holiday-we cannot find our holiday in our work. • The river finds its holiday –in its onward flow etc. • We do not give ourselves joyously –our work overpowers us.

Live… • Give us strength to love…to love fully-let us have strength enough fully to see and hear thy Universe and work with full vigour therein. • Let us bravely take and bravely give. • Let our newly awakened powers cry out for unlimited fulfillment in leaf and flower and fruit.

THE REALISATION OF BEAUTY • The things in which we do not take joy-are either a burden upon our minds or they are as useful –thus in temporary and partial relation to us. • A thing is only completely our own when it is a thing of joy to us. • What is the function of the sense of our beauty?

To see beauty • Detached from Self –interest • Away from the lust of the senses • Ugliness –in distorted version of beauty • The more we comprehend the physical worldspirit of the world becomes universal • Perfect emancipation of heart required-

Music • Purest form of art-most direct expression of beauty-with a form and spirit-which is one and simple. • Infinite in the finite forms of creation is music itself-silent and visible. • Music and the musician are inseparable… • Singer has everything within him.

Language of beauty The language of beauty-the caress, that comes from the heart of the world and straightway reaches our heart.

Beauty • Truth is everywhere…Beauty is Omnipresentso everything is capable of giving us joy. • At first-we detach beauty from its surroundings-we hold it apart from the restbut at the end we realise its harmony with all. • Sometimes we narrow down beauty • Required: To see unassuming harmony of common objects.

THE REALISATION OF THE INFINITE • Pg. 147 • True character of the desire that a man has when his soul longs for his God. • Infinite in the finite. • Brahma is everywhere (not to grocer’s shop for light) • Daily worship-surrendering ourselves-to elevate • Doll and the girl. • Maitreyi and her husband- Beyond material…

Going beyond If man apprehends God he becomes true… Losing ourselves by uniting… Yes, we must become Brahma In being and becoming I shall become the sea…. pg. 156. . the river has not alternative • We know him not , yet we know him… • No grade in –Infinite perfection • Lead me across…. here rolls the sea. • • •

References 1. Rabindranath , Tagore. Sadhana. The Realisation of Life (181. 4/Tag/69273) 2. S. Radhakrishnan, The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore (181. 4/Tag/Rad/159599). 3. Binoy Gopal Ray. The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore. (181. 4/Tag/Ray/K 1957). 4. Bhupendra Nath. Rabindranth Tagore-His Mystico – Religious Philosophy (181. 4/Tag/c/Nat/358518). 5. Basak, Kakoli. Rabindranth Tagore: A Humanist.