Thank you Lubomir! Best, Howard
> On Jun 25, 2024, at 9:02 AM, Lubomír Ondračka <[email protected]> wrote: > > For an overview of the history of the terms āstika and nāstika, see the > chapter: > > “Affirmers (āstikas) and Deniers (nāstikas) in Indian History”, in Andrew J. > Nicholson, Unifying Hinduism: Philosophy and Identity in Indian Intellectual > History, New York: Columbia University Press, 2010, pp. 166–184. > > L. > > On 25/06/2024 13:54, Howard Resnick via INDOLOGY wrote: >> Dear Nagaraj, >> >> You indicate that āstika and nāstika are Indian neologisms, but these words >> are common in earlier Sanskrit literature. I give a few examples below. >> >>> But , as almost all in this group know, these two words aastka and >>> naastika were not in reference to the existence or no existence of God in >>> the traditional Vaidika discourse. >> >> There are a number instances of āstikyam in the Mahābhārata, and the context >> seems to indicate the word is being used in the sense of believing in the >> existence of God. Here is just a partial list of occurences of āstikya and >> nāstikya in the Mahābhārata: >> >> MBh 1.1.181, 2.5.96, 6.40.42, 12.12.25, 12.59.66, >> >> And in the Gītā 18.42 >> >> Bhāgavata-purāṇa: 1.16.28, 7.11.23, 11.17.18, 11.19.33 >> >> In all these cases, the word seems to be used in the MW sense of "belief in >> God, piety, faithfulness.” >> >> Best wishes, >> Howard >> >> >>> On Jun 25, 2024, at 2:16 AM, Nagaraj Paturi via INDOLOGY >>> <[email protected]> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Dear Prof. Jeffrey Long, >>> >>> 'existence' , interestingly enough, is part of the contemporary neologisms >>> in the discourse related to religion in the contemporary Indian languages. >>> >>> Words aastka and naastika are the neologisms formed and in use as the >>> Indian language replacements for 'theist' and 'atheist' of English. >>> >>> But , as almost all in this group know, these two words aastka and >>> naastika were not in reference to the existence or no existence of God in >>> the traditional Vaidika discourse. >>> >>> asti and naasti, in the traditional Vaidika discourse , refer to the >>> existence and no existence of praamaanya for Sruti or existence or no >>> existence of paralokas , svarga, naraka or mokshalokas (such as vaikuntha, >>> goloka, kailaasa, manidveepa etc.) >>> >>> The root sat for exist as found in the word satya is part of the debates >>> within Vedanta about the satyatva or mithyaatva of the category called >>> Jagat , but not about a category comparable to God. >>> >>> Category comparable to God, or a category often conflated with or confused >>> for God in the Vaidika darshanas including Vedanta, is " eeshvara ". >>> >>> Classificational categories seshvara and nireeshvara used in reference to >>> different Vaidika darshanas are not about the existence or no existence of >>> " eeshvara ". It is about whether the category of " eeshvara ". is >>> necessary to account for things , (entities, processes and relationships >>> etc.) >>> >>> Within Vedanta, brahman and eeshvara , categories comparable to God, are >>> not discussed for existence or no existence of the category/entity. >>> >>> Another existence or no existence discussion within Bharatiya Darshanas >>> seems to be around aatman and that is between Vedanta and an avaidika >>> darshana, say Baudha darshana . If anattaa is no existence of aatman, >>> then this can be seen to be around the question of existence. >>> >>> In Vedanta, because of the equivalence of Brahman and aatman at a certain >>> level, this, if it is actually around the existence or no existence of >>> aatman, can be seen to be, at least remotely, connected to the existence >>> or no existence of a category comparable to God. >>> >>> On Sun, Jun 23, 2024 at 9:47 PM Jeffery Long via INDOLOGY >>> <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>>> Dear Colleagues, >>>> >>>> Forgive me if this question has already been raised at some point on this >>>> list. >>>> >>>> Are any of you aware of arguments developed in Indian philosophical >>>> systems akin to the ontological arguments for the existence of God raised >>>> by St. Anselm? The closest thing I can think of is Śaṅkara’s argument that >>>> existence is self-evident. >>>> >>>> With much gratitude in advance, >>>> >>>> Jeff >>>> >>>> >>>> Dr. Jeffery D. Long >>>> Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, & Asian Studies >>>> School of Arts & Humanities >>>> Elizabethtown College >>>> Elizabethtown, PA >>>> >>>> https://etown.academia.edu/JefferyLong >>>> >>>> Series Editor, Explorations in Indic Traditions: Ethical, Philosophical, >>>> and Theological >>>> Lexington Books >>>> >>>> “One who makes a habit of prayer and meditation will easily overcome all >>>> difficulties and remain calm and unruffled in the midst of the trials of >>>> life.” (Holy Mother Sarada Devi) >>>> >>>> “We are a way for the Cosmos to know itself.” (Carl Sagan) >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> INDOLOGY mailing list >>>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>>> https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Nagaraj Paturi >>> >>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA. >>> Dean, IndicA >>> BoS, MIT School of Vedic Sciences, Pune, Maharashtra >>> BoS Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Maharashtra >>> BoS Veda Vijnana Gurukula, Bengaluru. >>> Member, Advisory Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthanam, Bengaluru >>> Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies, >>> FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of Liberal Education, >>> Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> INDOLOGY mailing list >>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>> https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> INDOLOGY mailing list >> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology >
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