Healing through love, debate and just being: Instances from Indian traditions
Sangeetha Menon — National Institute of Advanced Study, Bangalore.
The tradition of Indian philosophical thinking is to be looked at from two standpoints with equal importance. The different processes of self-analysis and introspection together with an objective rationalization of metaphysical issues give significance for the role of self-healing. The two standpoints—of a rational enquiry, and a spiritual enquiry—both are based on the healing of the self through different modes of expressing and being. The different parables from the Upanishads which are at the same time symbols of a subtle rational process (based on negation) and also the strength of steadfastness and patience indicate the foundational nature of these narratives as relating to continuous healing caused by an inner space. Healing relates to the bruises caused by the thorns of alienated rational processes as well as false pleasure points of the mind caused by homogenous views about self-realization. This presentation will talk about three instances such as the role of love (as in the Bhakti traditions), debate (argumentative form of enquiry) and being (self-abidance) in forming self-generated tools of healing.
Email the author: "Dr. Sangeetha Menon" <prajnana@yahoo.com>
This paper was presented at the
National Conference on
Indian Psychology, Yoga and Consciousness
Pondicherry (India), 10-13 December 2004
