Guest guest Posted June 2, 2004 Report Share Posted June 2, 2004 Earlier postings can be seen at http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk/veda.htm SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ON THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS By Sister Gayatriprana part 199 3. Paul Deussen has Boldly Declared the Metaphysical Depths of the Upanishads before the Whole World If Max Muller is thus the old pioneer of the new movement, Paul Deussen is certainly one of its younger advance-guard. Philological interest had long hidden from view the gems of thought and spirituality to be found in the mine of our ancient scriptures. Max Muller brought out a few of them and exhibited them to the public gaze, compelling attention to them by means of his authority as the foremost philologist. Deussen, unhampered by any philological leanings and possessing the training of a philosopher singularly well versed in the speculations of ancient Greece and modern Germany, took up the cue and plunged boldly into the metaphysical depths of the Upanishads, found them to be fully satisfying and then equally boldly declared the fact before the whole world.(62) In Europe it is the interest in comparative philology that attracts scholars to the study of Sanskrit, though there are people like Paul Deussen who take interest in philosophy for its own sake.(63) Doctor Deussen is what I should call a " warring Advaitist " - no compromise with anything else. Ishwara is his bugbear. He would have none of it, if he could.(64) Deussen is certainly the freest among scholars in the expression of his opinion about the Vedanta. He never stops to think about the " what would they say " of the vast majority of scholars. We indeed require bold men and women in this world to tell us bold words about truth; and nowhere is this more true now than in Europe where, through the fear of social opinion and such other causes, there has been enough, in all conscience, of the white-washing and apologizing attitude among scholars towards creeds and customs which, in all probability, not many among them really believe in. The greater the glory, therefore, of Max Muller and Deussen for their bold and open advocacy of truth! May they be as bold in showing to Indians their defects, the later corruptions in Indian thought-systems, especially in their application to their social needs!(65) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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