Indian Spirituality

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The author bases his deliberations and interpretations of these spiritual themes on the classical Hindu scriptures, especially the Upanisads and the Gita, and tries to dig deep into the spiritual treasures of India. The philosophical foundations of these spiritual paths are also investigated.

Inter-religious dialogue and inculturation are two important concerns and duties of the Indian Churches. Churches need to enter into loving and creative dialogue with the Hindu majority religion, especially in our times where the aggressive Hindutva movement within Hinduism is gaining momentum. Churches also have the obligation to incarnate Jesus Christ and his message into the religious, cultural and spiritual milieu of India. Works of this kind would give inspiration and impetus to these two obligations of the Church.

Augustine Thottakara, cmi, the author of the work, is a specialist in Indology, Indian philosophy and Sanskrit. He has been teaching these subjects for more than two decades.

There are people who think that a sizeable section of the Indian populace today is in the firm grip of the evil effects of globalization and the consequent open market economic order. The new order of things, some think, has unleashed a new craze for consumerism, a kind of modern Epicureanism, a resurrection of the old Indian materialism, the Carvaka way of life. To certain extent this is true. Traditional value system in community celebrations, family life and personal life is being replaced by new materialistic and consumerist values and style of life. At the same time, and on the other hand, there is also a new awakening and a new penchant among many Indians for spirituality and spiritual life. New spiritual movements are gathering strength. A conscious revival and powerful resurgence of old spiritual practices and religious traditions are also very much perceptible. There is phenomenal increase in people's participation in common religious worship, celebrations of festivals, prayer meetings, pilgrimages, observance of traditional fasts and feasts, etc.

This is in tune with the characteristic psychic genius of India. In India the spirit of religion and the imprint of spirituality pervade and penetrate every sphere of life. For examples, the science of medicine written by sage Dhanvamtari (Ayurveda), the science of archery and martial occupation authored by sage Visvamitra (Dhanurveda), the art and science of drama, dance and poetics composed by sage Bharata (Ncitya-s'd stra or Ndtyaveda), science of music again by sage Bharata (Gandharva-veda) are considered to be secondary Vedas (Upa-vedas), and therefore very sacred and eminently spiritual. Artha, wealth, and Mina, pleasure, are purusarthas, goals or values of life, though subordinate and subservient to dharma, and moksa (liberation) which is the ultimate goal. Even the union of husband and wife is a sacramental ritual, a saniskara (garbhadliiina). Eating, a normal daily human need and activity, is a ritual act; it is a sacrifice offered into the abdominal fire. Philosophizing, which is an intellectual exercise and exertion of reasoning in the search of ultimate causes, is a spiritual exercise for Indians. It is dal*Ina, the vision of Reality from different viewpoints. Nyaya philosophy, for example, which deals with logic and epistemology, ultimately ask questions concerning the eschatological destiny of human life. All the works of fine arts like dance, music, poetics, etc. are considered as acts of worship, which are to be executed with proper purity of mind, honesty of intention, concentration of one's energies and consecration of the work to the divine power. Therefore, a spiritual outlook to all life's activities and occupations, and a spiritual world-view are natural to Indians.

Thus the gamut and ambience of Hindu spirituality is so immense and so expansive that even a multi-volume encyclopaedia would not suffice to treat this sublime theme adequately and in a comprehensive manner. This volume contains some basic thoughts on Hindu-Indian spirituality gleaned from different source books of Hinduism and from different Hindu religious traditions.

**Contents and Sample Pages**