[INDOLOGY] Analogues to Anselm's Ontological Arguments in Indian Philosophy?

[Nagaraj Paturi]

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 <
indology at list.indology.info> 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)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
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.
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