| The Bhagavad Gita
also says: "He who knows him self in everything and everything in himself will not
injure himself by himself."" Sri Sankaracharya in his commentary on the first of
the Brahma Sutras viz. athato, brahma jijnaasa points out the meaning denoted by the word
'atha ' viz. 'after'. He poses the question ' After what?' and answers: saadhana
chatushtaya sampatya nantaram; 'After man has attained ethical perfection and developed
the sense of detachment and desirelessness. He is
qualified to be initiated into Atma Jnana or the knowledge of the Self." Vedantic
though is built on the foundation of ethics. Rightly understood, therefore, Hindu thought
has not been world negating at all. As for the charge that Hindu thought emphasizes
individual salvation, as pointed out already, Ranti Deva declared that he did not care for
his own salvation but only wanted 'to do his duty of sharing with others in their misery
and of relieving their suffering. |
