Ethics of the Aryans and Modern Sages of India

Abstract

The Aryan view of life is that the personal life of an individual is ultimately subject to the same universal law as of all nature. The fundamental principle is the “theory of Karma,” which says that each action eventually causes a certain effect. Everything in nature, from abstract thought to practical action is determined and directed by this law, as explained by Krishna in Bhagwat Gita. Man sets himself the goal of freeing himself from the bondage of the nature. This chapter analyzes various aspects of this basic idea. Ethical dimensions of ancient Indian literature are analyzed. In this part of this chapter, we also narrate the personalities of modern sages who developed the philosophical tradition of India further; the foremost of them was Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, and Sri Aurobindo. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a philosopher of Nayaya School (Indian logic) and a social reformer who campaigned against widow burning, child marriage, and women’s right on property. Rabindranath Tagore was a philosopher of Bhakti (devotional) movement, and an active promoter of India’s freedom movement. Swami Vivekananda gave the wake up call to India to fight against the imperialism. His ideas are based on the Karma (Action) Yoga of Bhagwat Gita. Sri Aurobindo reinterpreted the Vedas in light of his philosophy of Gyana (Knowledge) Yoga of Bhagwat Gita.

Appendix

Nārada Bhakti Sutra

It has five commandments. The Nārada Bhakti Sūtra 78 declares five principles to practice.

• 1. Nonviolence

• 2. Truthfulness

• 3. Cleanliness

• 4. Compassion

• 5. Faith

Ṛig Veda

It has 5 commandments:

• Ahiṅsa—non-injury

• Brahmacharya—non-fornication

• Asteya—non-stealing

• Satya—non-lying

• Aparigraha—non-possessiveness

The following excerpt from the Ṛig Veda sums up the Pancha-vrata:

Violence, womanizing, drinking liquor, gambling, stealing, falsehood or lying and association with those who commit these sins; one who commits any of these sins is a sinner.

Yājñavalkya Smrti

It has 5 commandments. Sage Yājña-valkya was a sage (ṛiṣi) in the Vedic age and mentor of Rājā Janaka. The Yājña-valkya Smṛti prescribes the Pancha-vrata, apart from other moral codes.^[

Yoga Sutra

It has 9 commandments. Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras lists them to follow for a good or sinless livelihood.

• 1. Ahiṅsā: Nonviolence. Abstinence from injury that arises out of love for all, harmlessness, the not causing of pain to any living creature in thought, word, or deed at any time. This and Satya are the “main” yama. The other eight are there in support of its accomplishment.

• 2. Satya: Truthfulness, word and thought in conformity with the facts, honesty.

• 3. Asteya: Non-stealing, non-coveting, non-entering into debt.

• 4. Brahmacharya: Being constantly aware of the universe, immersed in divinity, divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithfulness when married.

• 5. Kṣama: Patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.

• 6. Dṛti: Steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to completion.

• 7. Dayā: Compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.

• 8. Ārjava: Honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.

• 9. Mithara: Moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little; nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs.

• 10. Śaucha: Purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech

Śāndilya Upaniṣad

It has 10 commandments. Śāndilya Upaniṣad is the 62nd Upaniṣad and it declares 10 yamas.

• 1. Ahiṅsā—Non-violence

• 2. Satya—Truth

• 3. Asteya—Non-stealing

• 4. Brahmacharya—Celibacy

• 5. Dayā—Compassion

• 6. Ārjava—Equanimity

• 7. Kṣamā—Forgiveness

• 8. Dhṛti—Firmness of mind

• 9. Mitāhāra—Vegetarianism and non-wasting of food

• 10. Sancha

Veda Vyāsa

It has 6 commandments. In the Mahā Purāṇam Śrimad Devî Bhāgavatam, Veda Vyāsa writes of achieving yoga or union with God by destroying the six enemies of yoga;

• 1. Lust

• 2. Anger

• 3. Greed

• 4. Ignorance

• 5. Vanity

• 6. Jealousy

Maharishi Gautama

It has 8 commandments. Mahaṛṣi Gautama was a lawgiver, and ascribed eight yamas.

• 1. Dāyā sarvabhuteshu: Kindness, compassion, pity and sympathy towards every living being.

• 2. Kṣamā: Forgiveness.

• 3. Anusuyā, anirmatsarata: No jealousy.

• 4. Śauch, antar-bāhya-śuchirbhutata: Purity, the state of being pure from outside and inside.

• 5. Anāyāsa: Not to indulge in petty and meaningless things.

• 6. Mangala: To think, wish and work for bliss, well-being and prosperity of all.

• 7. Akarpanya: Neither to be nor to show weakness and miserliness.

• 8. Aspṛha: Neither list nor wish to possess whatever belonged to others.

Srimad Bhagavatam

It has 30 commandments. The Śrimad Bhāgavatam lays down the following customs to be practiced for a good human life.

• 1. Truthfulness

• 2. Mercy

• 3. Austerity

• 4. Bathing twice a day

• 5. Tolerance

• 6. Discrimination between right and wrong

• 7. Control of the mind

• 8. Control of the senses

• 9. Nonviolence

• 10. Celibacy

• 11. Charity

• 12. Reading of scripture

• 13. Simplicity

• 14. Satisfaction

• 15. Rendering service to saintly persons

• 16. Gradually taking leave of unnecessary engagements

• 17. Observing the futility of the unnecessary activities of human society

• 18. Remaining silent and grave and avoiding unnecessary talk

• 19. Considering whether one is the body or the soul

• 20. Distributing food equally to all living entities^[18]

• 21. Seeing every soul as a part of the Supreme Lord

• 22. Hearing about the activities and instructions given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead^[20]

• 23. Chanting about these activities and instructions

• 24. Always remembering these activities and instructions

• 25. Trying to render service

• 26. Performing worship

• 27. Offering obeisance

• 28. Becoming a servant

• 29. Becoming a friend

• 30. Surrendering one’s whole self

Nārada Bhakti Sutra

It has 5 commandments.

• Nonviolence

• Truthfulness

• Cleanliness

• Compassion

• Faith