Mystic Mantra: Pranaam, philosophers!

When asked: “Aap kya kaam karta hai?” I reply, “Teacher!” Unsatisfied with this perfunctory reply, I’m normally asked again, “Kaunsa teacher? Teaching what?” When I reply “theology” and “philosophy” — offering deshi equivalents like Ish-shashtra, Dharma-shastra, Darshan-shastra and Tattva-gnana — I get vacuous stares and the questioning stops. Apparently, not many comprehend or are even concerned about what theology and philosophy teach.

Realising the enduring value of philosophy for the development of human thought for each culture and each individual, UNESCO decided in 2002 that every third Thursday in November be celebrated as “World Philosophy Day”. Today, stop awhile, and ask: “Why?”

Whether you’re aware of it or not, when a “Why?” arises in your mind, and you set upon a process of reflection to get answers to that “Why?” you are already a philosopher — philosophising on issues that interest or intrigue you. Genuine philosophers love truth and relentlessly seek to reach the very core of being so as to respond to life effectively.

“Philosophy” derives from two Greek words: “Philia” meaning “love” and “Sophia”, wisdom. Love of wisdom! Don’t we treasure the company of wise people who shed light on perplexing problems with their words of advice, refreshing insights, and relentless resolve to lead us to the depths of truth?

In dedicating November 15th as “World Philosophy Day”, UNESCO highlighted the importance of philosophy especially for young people, underlining that “philosophy is a discipline that encourages critical and independent thought and is capable of working towards a better understanding of the world and promoting tolerance and peace”.

Don’t we often become intolerant, defensive, dismissing viewpoints differing from ours? We hate questions — especially those raised by the young. We’d rather exist unthreatened, silencing meaningful questions, and stifling youthful quests for attaining satya and gnana. Even worse, society and cyberspace is swamped with lies of powerful politicians who garner votes by polarising people and pulverising diverse opinions.

“An unexamined life is not worth living,” said Socrates, exhorting everyone to examine the whence and whither of one’s life, the Ultimate of one’s existence, and the meaning of one’s present being and doing. One who reflects upon all these is a philosopher. So, keep questioning! You’ll find answers, or, you’ll be rewarded with more questions — leading to truth, wisdom and knowledge.  

Thanks to Adi Shankara we have unifying philosophies like Advaita Vedanta, and, Raimon Pannikar gave us the cosmotheandric insight combining the divine, human and cosmic in blissful harmony. The “masters of suspicion” — Marx, Freud and Nietzsche — also challenge us to unmask illusions and hidden meanings behind texts.

On “World Philosophy Day” let’s be glad and grateful for philosophers and their philosophies — Indian and otherwise. And, if someone tells you to stop questioning, simply ask: “Why?”