Indian Culture: The Most Misunderstood Culture
ABSTRACT
This paper aims to study Ancient Indian Culture, which is highly
misunderstood in the world. It is seen as inferior, non-scientific and full of
superstition. This paper explains that Ancient Indian Culture is one of the
most oldest and scientific culture with great focus on self, mind and
humanitarian values. This paper tells about different teachings of Indian
Culture. This paper tells that, the meaning of Indian culture is that it is a
logical interaction towards human freedom and prosperity. No other culture
has an individual with as much profundity and understanding as this culture
has. No other culture has viewed at it as a science and made techniques to
advance an individual into his definitive nature.
KEY WORDS
Ancient Indian Culture, Atman, Self, Mind.
INTRODUCTION
The Indian Culture is the most ancient culture, but its origin cannot be traced
back. A specific time period cannot be given. This culture has been
manipulated by different section of society in different time periods.
Therefore, people misunderstood this culture. The biggest misunderstanding
is that this culture is a religion. Dharma and Religion have now become
synonyms. According to Oxford, Dharma is:
“the eternal and inherent nature of reality, regarded in Hinduism as a cosmic
law underlying right behavior and social order.”
“”(in Buddhism) the nature of reality regarded as a universal truth taught by
the Buddha: the teaching of Buddhism.”
"an aspect of truth or reality."
And Religion according to Oxford is:
, “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a
personal God or gods.”
There is a huge difference between the meanings of these two words: Dharma
and Religion.
Indian culture exclusively focuses on the study of ‘atman” (self) or Indian
culture and its elements help an Individual to understand the elements of
mind. The purpose of life explained is to merge. ‘atman” (self) with ‘Brahman’
(universal self). The existence of life is to be enlightened, and the fact is that
human being is already enlightened. There is need to realize it. It is stated that
individual and the universe is never been different. It is only separated in one’s
imagination.
Joan Shivarpita Harrigan explained that, “Although there is only one God, but
the world appears to be dualistic and dualistic mind sets that incorporates
evolution towards God. When the realization occurs, it is realized that true
selfis never separated and “finally” merge and recognize true self, a self that is
not and has never been separate.
Osho Rajneesh explained that, “Enlightenment is the ultimate truth- the
seeker disappears but the truth is found. The pilgrim disappears but God is
found. It is important to understand the differences …from enlightenment
there is no possibility offalling back, because you are no longer there to fall
back As long as you are, there is a possibility.”
Sadhguru said that, “Self-realization means to realize that everything has
been right here within. The self and not seen by human being.
These different definitions of self-realization or enlightenment explain that
definitions can be different but the end result is not. There are different aims
for attaining self-realization but only one goal. According to my understanding,
this is basis of the Indian culture.
Background
ABSTRACT
This paper aims to study Ancient Indian Culture, which is highly
misunderstood in the world. It is seen as inferior, non-scientific and full of
superstition. This paper explains that Ancient Indian Culture is one of the
most oldest and scientific culture with great focus on self, mind and
humanitarian values. This paper tells about different teachings of Indian
Culture. This paper tells that, the meaning of Indian culture is that it is a
logical interaction towards human freedom and prosperity. No other culture
has an individual with as much profundity and understanding as this culture
has. No other culture has viewed at it as a science and made techniques to
advance an individual into his definitive nature.
KEY WORDS
Ancient Indian Culture, Atman, Self, Mind.
INTRODUCTION
The Indian Culture is the most ancient culture, but its origin cannot be traced
back. A specific time period cannot be given. This culture has been
manipulated by different section of society in different time periods.
Therefore, people misunderstood this culture. The biggest misunderstanding
is that this culture is a religion. Dharma and Religion have now become
synonyms. According to Oxford, Dharma is:
“the eternal and inherent nature of reality, regarded in Hinduism as a cosmic
law underlying right behavior and social order.”
“”(in Buddhism) the nature of reality regarded as a universal truth taught by
the Buddha: the teaching of Buddhism.”
"an aspect of truth or reality."
And Religion according to Oxford is:
, “the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a
personal God or gods.”
There is a huge difference between the meanings of these two words: Dharma
and Religion.
Indian culture exclusively focuses on the study of ‘atman” (self) or Indian
culture and its elements help an Individual to understand the elements of
mind. The purpose of life explained is to merge. ‘atman” (self) with ‘Brahman’
(universal self). The existence of life is to be enlightened, and the fact is that
human being is already enlightened. There is need to realize it. It is stated that
individual and the universe is never been different. It is only separated in one’s
imagination.
Joan Shivarpita Harrigan explained that, “Although there is only one God, but
the world appears to be dualistic and dualistic mind sets that incorporates
evolution towards God. When the realization occurs, it is realized that true
selfis never separated and “finally” merge and recognize true self, a self that is
not and has never been separate.
Osho Rajneesh explained that, “Enlightenment is the ultimate truth- the
seeker disappears but the truth is found. The pilgrim disappears but God is
found. It is important to understand the differences …from enlightenment
there is no possibility offalling back, because you are no longer there to fall
back As long as you are, there is a possibility.”
Sadhguru said that, “Self-realization means to realize that everything has
been right here within. The self and not seen by human being.
These different definitions of self-realization or enlightenment explain that
definitions can be different but the end result is not. There are different aims
for attaining self-realization but only one goal. According to my understanding,
this is basis of the Indian culture.
Background
