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The Hindu metaphysics present the maybe biggest and most fascinating challenge for the western reader. Someone, who is not familiar with
Hindu tradition, needs indeed a good guide, leading him through the complex and foreign labyrinth of Hindu metaphysics.
Prof. Ramakant Sinari is without any doubt one of the best guides, you can get. In his article he will take you on a long and fascinating journey,
showing you the rich and miraculous world of the Hindu 'Weltanschauung'. Even the reader, considering himself as a knower of the Hindu world, will receive the possibility to deepen and widen his knowledge.
Sinari enrols the history of Hindu metaphysics from its very beginning, analyzing the teachings of the early Vedas and Upanishads. He
continues this exposition with a presentation of the metaphysical concept of the holy scripture Bhagavad-Gitaand of Shankara (800 AD), a well-known Hindu philosopher and interpreter of the Upanishads.
Finally he introduces the thoughts of Ramanuja, a famous thinker of the 12th century and of Sri Aurobindo.
It is an outstanding achievement of Sinari, to establish a consistent link to philosophers of our tradition, mentioning and quoting Heidegger, Hegel,
Jaspers and even Novalis. This step proves not only his profound knowledge of our philosophical tradition, much more it becomes the 'leitmotif' for the reader, guiding him on this journey.
The author emphasizes, by considering the western metaphysical tradition, very clearly the essence of Hindu metaphysics, its dominant task being the
analysis of the relation between man and nature (atman-brahman), the exploration of human consciousness (atman), the nature of the cosmos (brahman), as well as the ethical duties of the
individual, in order to maintain the cosmic order (dharma). The central presuggestion of this metaphysics is based on the conviction, that there is a dynamical system, an order, force, or energy, guiding
everything, that happens in this world. The Hindu terminology calls it Rta. Sinari describes it as the 'Logic' of the entire history of metaphysics. Starting out from this holistic 'Weltanschauung', the cause
for human suffering lies in the fact, that man is not aware of the unity between man and nature and for that he feels somehow uprooted and ever lonely in this world. There is only one way to cure him: He must become
aware of this principles and of his place and task in the world. Only then he will be able to live a fulfilled life and to contribute to the welfare of mankind.
Coming to the end of this article, one has the feeling, to come back from a very long and fantastic journey and you can feel, that something remained
inside you....
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