tman_and_moksa

Author(s): G N Joshi
Publisher: Gujarat University

Page 12

Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
N
higher values of life is bound to disrupt the social unity and harmony. Hence, I feel that now the understanding of the real nature of 'Self' is very much called for to prevent further disintegration of and catastrophe in our social life. I wish to submit humbly that an unwavering faith in the over-individual, traps-pragmatic and transcendental values of life alone can inspire an individual to transcend his narrow personal desires and egoistic limitations. Such a living faith in the Transcendental Self alone can serve as a powerful support to and as a perennial. spring for moral values, which alone, in their turn, can sustain the well-organised, orderly and harmonious life.
As the present man is living under very great strain and tension of mind, he is experiencing a sense of ipner void and hence, naturally, we find in the present society a widespread scepticism, disbelief, disappointment, acute frustration, and a want of faith in the higher moral and spiritual values. Human life is thus facing a new moral and spiritual crisis, and this, I thjpk, is due to the prevailing confusion in the proper understanding of the real nature of the Self' for whose satisfaction human beings are perpetually striving.
The present age is the age of science and technology. Naturally, at present there is the tendency to put every thing to a rigorous analysis and experimental and rational tests. The old metaphysical idea of the Self also is being subjected to scientific and experimental study and rational scrutiny. However, I think, it is helpful and desirable to understand and examine the old metaphysical, psychological, ethical and religious aspects of the self, so that they may throw a new light on the problem and may suggest new approaches. Fortunately, most of the systems of Indian Philosophy and the Hindu religion, being spiritually oriented, contain abundant material on the Self (Ātman). Similarly, the ancient Indian thinkers, the Rşis, Saints and Philosophers had engaged themselves, for centuries, in seeking to understand properly the real nature of the Self, and hence, one can obtain important and significant material on this subject from their inquiries. I think that there is enough
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