The Influence of Tarkaśāstra Proficiency in the Internal and Interfaith Dialogue Nowadays
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 3 No. 2 October 2019 THE INFLUENCE OF TARKAŚĀSTRA PROFICIENCY IN THE INTERNAL AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE NOWADAYS By: Ni Kadek Surpi Institut Hindu Dharma Negeri Denpasar E-mail : [email protected] Received: August 11, 2019 Accepted: September 18, 2019 Published: October 31, 2019 Abstract Proficiency in Tarkaśāstra, philosophy, and theology dramatically influences the ability to run dialogue both internally and between religious communities. Besides that, the ability to think critically and established arguments, dialogue, debate, and discussion are the central knowledge in darśana. Hindu thinkers master the Tarka-Vāda and can dialogue with followers of Sanatana Dharma and other believers. The expertise of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya and other Hindu thinkers in the field of Tarka-Vāda is essential today in the Dharmapracāraka, teachers, Hindu intellectuals, academics, and Hindu devotees. Also, the mastery of the Tarka- Vada as an effort to support the science of communication (Vakya Vidya) in the Hindu tree of knowledge and glorify Vācaspati. Keywords: Philosophy, darśana, Dialogue, Tarkaśāstra, Tarka -Vāda, Dharmapracāraka I. INTRODUCTION free knowledge of dialogue, even mock each Today, Hinduism in Indonesia, even in other and slander the teachings of others with the world, is facing attacks from preachers of no guilt. In addition, it has become a daily other religions. Various topics in Hinduism routine for young people to search for are compared blindly with several lecturers various topics using a web search engine. to denigrate Hinduism and show the faith Hindus with a pattern of religious learning they profess. Likewise, dialogue and debate that tends to be natural and passive seem cannot be avoided, especially on social desperate when other people question media platforms (social media). Social media various Hindu teaching topics. It appears that users, regardless of their background and they are not ready and unable to dialogue, 250 Vol. 3 No. 2 Oct. 2019 discuss, or even argue. In fact, in the Hindu knowledge. Thus, Śruti and Śāstra were the Suśāstra, debate and discussion are answers, aided by the science of reason and fundamental knowledge to be studied first by logic and excellent communication skills. Dharmapracāraka (Hindu Lecturer, teacher). Darśana, Hindu Philosophy, and Theology Hindu civilization has experienced attacks (Brahma vidya) are studied through Śruti and several times, and there have been changes, Śāstra to strengthen Śraddhā. In addition, the such as the onslaught of the birth of power of reasoning, communication skills Buddhism, Jaina, Islam, Christianity, and the will be increased through intensive learning incursion of modernity. in order to open a path of dialogue both To face the challenges of modernity in internally and between religious this contemporary era, Hindus should re- communities design strategies following the challenges of the times. The use of IT and Social Media is II. METHOD very massive and the emergence of lecturers This study is a text study that examines who continue to attack various Hindu the values and ideas of Tarkasastra In Hindus teachings and even declare themselves as Ancient text such as Upaniṣad people who understand the contents of the Bhagavata Purāṇa Bhagavad Gītā, Garuda Vedas make many young people experience Purana, Sushruta Samhita, Abhinaya- confusion about their religion. The study of darpana, Vedanta Sutra. This research Hinduism should shift from using traditional focused on how the values Tarkasastra can patterns to the jñāna path, in the form of be used as a basis in discussion and debate learning of Holy Literature, philosophy, and today theology. This study uses the Paul Ricoeur A scholar is required to master the Interpretation Theory. In his theory, Paul various arts of communication, including Ricoeur seeks to bridge the problem of discussion and debate. Dharmapracārakas, discourse that has been going on for a very Hindu devotees, organizational leaders long time and has become a problem by should comprehend the Tarkaśāstra (logic, Plato and Aristotle. Ricoeur started his debate, and debate) well. Therefore, it is discussion with the theme of language as a where the biggest weakness of Hinduism discourse. Ricoeur says (2012: 18) this is the laid. The fact that most of the people who are first context in which the concept of supposed to master the Tarkashastra, but lack discourse is known, that mistakes and truths this knowledge. Scholars, teachers, lecturers, are the affection of discourse and discourse Dharmapracāraka, Hindu religious to establish two basic signs, one noun and instructors, PHDI administrators, one interrelated verb in the synthetic form administrators of Hindu organizations, (meaningful) behind the well said word. Dharma Ambassadors, and also Ministry of Furthermore, Ricoeur stated (2012: 19) in Religion employees should master the this modern linguistics, the problem of science of public speaking, communicate discourse becomes an original thing because well and be able to debate/discuss. Because today's discourse can be contradicted by a the Vedas say that the successors of truth, contradictory term which unknown or not orators play a significant role in the justified by ancient philosophers. transformation of society. Hindu thinkers have long recognized III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION that Śruti and Śāstra are closely related to Dialogue holds an essential place in the Śraddhā or faith. Thus the aim of Śāstra's Hindu Suśāstra. Hindu texts-Śruti and Śāstra learning is to strengthen the beliefs of are full of dialogue to convey various Hindus and be able to communicate them teachings. The Upaniṣad scriptures are full of with the community. Today, human conversation. Even the most famous reasoning wants to be satisfied with scripture of the Bhagavad Gītā is the 251 Vol. 3 No. 2 Oct. 2019 dialogue between Śri Kṛṣṇā the Lord of told in a conversation between wise men Yoga and Arjuna the mighty hero and great from the Naimiśa forest (Schweig, 2012:51). archer. Likewise, various suśāstra use Besides, the text of the Bhagavata is filled discussion as a medium to convey various with various dialogues. Even Upadesa books teachings. Dialogue in the Hindu tradition is compiled in Bali use discussion as a learning believed to have been very old, which medium. developed in multiple forms. Schweig (2012: 61) states in the Dialogue also plays a vital role in Vaiṣṇava tradition, the dialogue is Vaiṣṇava's tradition and vision. First, the considered to be the Dance of Divine Love dialogue itself is an integral part of the called Rāsa. The five chapters of the practice and worship of life that is applied in Bhāgavata known as Rāsa Līlā are rich in Kṛṣṇā bhakti. Dialogue is also the śāstra dialog symbolism, this final symbol of union matrix through which even the most in the divine love-Rāsa Maṇḍala. The dance significant revelations of Kṛṣṇā's divine begins with the Gopikā Vraja, the cowherd actions are most frequently expressed. girls from Vraja, who connect weapons to Moreover, the dialogue is a pedagogical form a large circle of dancers around the medium through which the holy teachings divine figure of Kṛṣṇā who remains at the are transmitted. And finally, the conversation center of the maṇḍala. Then Kṛṣṇā is the one becomes a fundamental and essential who multiplies his divine form as many element in the most intimate exchanges times as needed to enter between each of the between the divine figures in līlā contained two Vraja Gopikās. The significance of in the holy realm (Schweig, 2012:51). Kṛṣṇā comes between the two Gopikas, Dialogue is an essential thing that even whether this: the two partners in dialogue cannot be avoided today. In the world, the have the power to attract new presence or Vaiṣṇava community plays a critical role that divine revelation. Which is the fourth phase builds a bridge of dialogue between the of axial dialogue must be considered the Sanatana Dharma and other religions. But perfection of dialogue. The symbols of Rāsa actually, this dialogue was pioneered by Maṇḍala can be seen and interpreted as Swami Vivekananda when he attended the symbols of great discussion, the building Parliament of the World Religions in blocks of authentic pluralism. At the very Chicago, September 11, 1893. least, he can speak to Vaiṣṇava as a symbol Dialogue, debate, and discussion are of the perfect form of dialogue or sharing nothing new in the Hindu tradition. Even between humans and the divine, and also Hindu literature is dialogue, primarily between humans and other humans. Upanisad and Bhagavad Gītā. Dialogue is Hinduism never really opposes the dominant expression mode in these texts. dialogue, but instead teaches dialogue as an As we often speak of the Socratic dialogue, effort to enlighten each other, mutual we might also talk of the Upanishad Enlightenment (Kathā, parasparam), as the dialogue. Because the Upanishads, especially Bhagavad Gītā sloka says: the early ones, are filled with educational dialogue between teachers and students. The mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā famous Bhagavad Gītā is dialogue, bodhayantah parasparam conversation, between Kṛṣṇā and Arjuna, kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ originating from within the outer narrative tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca dialogue layer between Dhritarāshtra and Bhagavad Gītā X.9 Sanjaya. It is not uncommon to find multi- layered discussions within the narrative With their minds focussed on frame of Sanskrit epic and historical texts. Me, with their prāṇas centred For example, the Like with Parīkṣit dialogue, in Me, inspiring one another which took place at the Bhagavata Purāṇa, is and always speaking of Me, 252 Vol. 3 No. 2 Oct. 2019 they live in contentment and Ubhaya Bhāratī acknowledged his defeat, bliss at all times (Rāmānuja, and as a consequence, Mandana Miśra and 2009:333) his wife became followers of Sankaracarya and were initiated under the name The Bhagavad Gītā translation of Sureśvarācārya. Rāmānuja is the oldest bhaṣya (commentary) after Śaṅkarācārya. Schweig (2012: 57) Tarka Śāstra is a science of states that there are four activities related to dialectics, logic and reasoning, and devotion described in the verse.