Draft:Arundhati Darshana Nyaya
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Arundhati Darshana Nyaya (Sanskrit: अरुन्धतीदर्शनन्यायः, translation: "the technique of spotting the Arundhati star") is a traditional Indian pedagogical method or Nyaya used to guide a student from a vague, indirect perception of a concept to a clear, direct realization. It is often employed in Vedanta and other philosophical traditions to illustrate the process of gradual revelation and understanding.[a][b]
Hinduism describes reality at different levels through its different Darshanas (schools of thought, or perspectives) broadly classified into dualism, qualified non-dualism and non-dualism. When someone holds one to one perspective, it doesn't mean that it is in contradiction with the other perspectives. Instead, every perspective can be understood by this principle. In order to grasp each perspective, one needs to have a certain set of qualities depending on the Darshana, and this is described as their Adhikari Bheda, or difference in eligibility. For example, Advaita Vedanta requires one to have the fourfold qualities. If someone does not have the qualities required by a perspective, then they will not be able to grasp it as they are not in the zone of proximal development. This was an old principle that's always been in use, but it was never formulated, and it was Swami Vivekananda who popularized it.[3]
Once a person has established their ability, the principle of Arundhati Darshana Nyaya is used to guide them to the next level of understanding.
Method
[edit]-
The Big Dipper's bowl and part of the handle photographed from the International Space Station. Mizar and Alcor are at the upper right. -
The multiple star system of Mizar (the double star on the right) and Alcor (left). The unrelated, fainter star Sidus Ludoviciana can be seen lower down. -
The pair of stars Arundhati and Vasishta (Mizar and Alcor) are visible to the naked eye within the handle of the Big Dipper in the Ursa Major constellation.
The method is based on how one is taught to see the faint Arundhati star (Alcor), which is barely visible to the naked eye next to Vasishta (Mizar) in the Ursa Major constellation.
In general[a]:
- The teacher first points to a large, prominent star.
- The teacher then directs attention to a smaller, less brighter stars closer to the actual star.
- After a few such steps, the seeker is finally able to locate and recognize the faint Arundhati star.
Usage
[edit]In Indian Philosophy
[edit]In Hinduism
[edit]In Hindu Darshanas like Advaita Vedanta the direct teaching of non-dualism can be confusing to a student. For this reason, the Arundati Darshana Nyaya is used to convey the idea, and it is done so according to the level of understanding of the student. This differences in the level of understanding required to grasp a principle that exists between people is referred to as Adhikaari Bheda.[c][2] In Western philosophy, this is referred to as the zone of proximal development.
According to Swami Vivekananda:
To show a man the fine star Arundhati, one takes the big and brilliant nearest to it, upon which he is asked to fix his eyes first, and then it becomes quite easy to direct his sight to Arundhati. This is the task before us, and to prove my idea I have simply to show you the Upanishads, and you will see it. Nearly every chapter begins with dualistic teaching, Upasana. God is first taught as a Being who is the creator of this universe, its preserver, and the destruction to which everything goes at last. He is the one to be worshipped, the Ruler, and appears to be outside of nature. Next we find the same teacher teaching that God is not outside of nature, but immanent in nature And at last both ideas are discarded and it is taught that whatever is real is He; there is no difference. "Svetaketu, thou art That." The immanent one is at last declared to be the same that is in the human soul.
The methods of Bhakthi Yoga, Karma Yoga and Jnaana Yoga are multiple paths to liberation or realization.[5][6][7][8] According to the Bhagavad Gita, Jnaana Yoga is understood to be the most difficult of the three paths,[9] so one is guided to start with one of the other two paths and slowly find their way to Jnaana Yoga.
In Buddhism
[edit]The idea is also pervasive throughout the corpus of Mahayoga and Yogini Tantras of Buddhism.[10]
General Usage
[edit]The principle of Arundhati Darshana Nyaya refers to the same techniques used in any area of education, where one is taught a simpler concept before moving on to more complex topics. In Western philosophy, this is more commonly known as instructional scaffolding, a concept in constructivism. Examples:
- In Mathematics: The principles of basic arithmetic are taught before a student is taught higher level ideas like Calculus.
- In Physics: The Bohr model of the atom is first taught before introducing the model of quantum mechanics.
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b Swami Vivekanada explains the process and the analogy of teaching non-duality.[1]
- ^ Virseswarananda cites Vivekananda's explanation [1] and points out how the Upanishads explain reality from different perspectives and are not contradictory.[2]
- ^ Vivekananda explains Adhikari Bheda and points out that one Darshana does not invalidate the other Darshanas.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Swami Vivekananda 1958, p. 398.
- ^ a b c Swami Virseswarananda 1958, pp. xii-lxiii.
- ^ Saral Jhingran 1958, p. 24.
- ^ Swami Vivekananda 1958, p. 397.
- ^ Flood 1996, p. 96.
- ^ Brannigan 2010, pp. 18-22.
- ^ P. T. Raju 1958, pp. 7-8.
- ^ Fowler 2012, pp. 89–93.
- ^ Eknath Easwaran 2011, pp. 118-119, 281.
- ^ Wedemeyer 2013, p. 149.
Sources
[edit]- Swami Vivekananda (1958). The Complete Works Of Swami Vivekananda Vol. 3. Archive.org: Digital Library Of India. ISBN 8175053755. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- Swami Virseswarananda (1982). Brahma Sutras According To Sri Sankara By Swami Vireswarananda [Sanskrit-English]. Archive.org: Vedanta Press. ISBN 8185301956. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- Saral Jhingran (1989). Aspects of Hindu Morality. Archive.org: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120805743. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
Adhikara bheda.
- Flood, Gavin D. (1996). An introduction to Hinduism. Google Books: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521438780. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- Brannigan, Michael C. (2010). Striking a Balance: A Primer in Traditional Asian Values. Google Books: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780739138465. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- P. T. Raju (1985). Structural Depths of Indian Thought. Archive.org: State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780887061394. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- Fowler, Jeaneane D. (2012), The Bhagavad Gita: A Text and Commentary for Students, Eastbourne: Sussex Academy Press, ISBN 9781845195205
- Eknath Easwaran (2011). Essence of the Bhagavad Gita: A Contemporary Guide to Yoga, Meditation, and Indian Philosophy. Google Books: Nilgiri Press. ISBN 9781586380687. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- Wedemeyer, Christian K. (2013). Making Sense of Tantric Buddhism. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231162401. Retrieved 6 March 2025.