Metaphysics of Plato is Vedas retold in the West*
"Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides." (Rig Veda)
The metaphysics of Socrates and Plato influenced so much the Westernthought and brought enlightenment to the West that today "West"describes Plato as philosophy and philosophy as Plato. We in Indiaseem to have forgotten that that source of his writings and philosophywas Vedic metaphysics.
Plato left Athens for about one decade and visited Prasava (Persia),Ariana (Iran) and North West part of the then India-land of Aryans. Heseems to have discussed a number of metaphysical concepts with thethen Vedic Rsis and Munnies. On his return to Athens, he propagatedthose thoughts without making any reference to Vedic rsis and munnies.However, the influence of Vedic metaphysics is clearly visible inPlato's writings/books.
Like the Vedic concept of moderation and Iddm nan mmam (enlightenedliberalism) Plato mentions in his Laws (174-f) and also in Utopia thatin an Ideal state the range of economic disparities should be within1:16. If the range of disparity increases marginally, the state isless ideal. However, if it increases considerably, the state is eithera Democracy or an Oligarchy. The rulers in both tend to be tyrannical,corrupt, and hypocritical. In his metaphysics, Plato says that thesoul of virtuous people becomes lighter and goes toward heaven bymoving upward after death and that of the non-virtuous, being heavier,it stays near the earth and is the cause of rebirth. On rebirth,people may be born in one of the nine kinds of families professingdifferent faiths, religions, as well as in the different regions ofthe earth. Plato thus becomes one of the few ancient Westernphilosophers who gave a perfect philosophical theory on secularism anduniversal brotherhood which in the East Vedic rsis and munnies hadalready conveyed through Vedas.
In an ideal state, which he described as Republic,divine guidance is the maximum and in Tyranny it reaches its minimumand world dissolution (Vedic Pralaya) comes when that divine guidanceis totally withdrawn. Like Vedic metaphysics Plato confirms that lifein this vast turbulent ocean of matter- the material world is anillusion of comfort (Vedic Maya) and described the gross world as aphenomenal world. Plato held largely similar views like Vedic Rta(Laws of Nature) in his theory of Forms and Ideas. A few otherglimpses of Vedic metaphysics can also seen in Plato's writingsrelating to divinity in the noble vocations, social classes, educationsystem extending up to 48 years, value system and need based living,absolute nature of right and wrong and many other concepts. Like Vedashe mentioned worst thing about corruption is that it distorts theconcept of knowledge. He must have learnt about the ideal philosopherking Janaka of Bhagavad-Gita assisted by Rishi Yajnvalkya and RsikaGargi and developed the theory of "philosopher kings" for hisRepublic. His concept of economics and global trade has greatresemblance to Vedic economics and global trade.
While Plato propagated the Vedic concept of scientific temper, hisdisciple Aristotle spread the message of Physical Sciences of matterwith unsuspected vitality without referring to Vedas. Later many ofthese thoughts are found in the metaphysics of Saint Aquinas,Augustine, Immanuel Kant and many others including some scientistslike Newton, Einstein etc.
Note*-This article is written by Premssbhlok, I have received it as response to my earlier article on Rigveda. This article reinforces the fact that Vedas are pure pragmatic knowledge. Thanks Harkabir, for forwarding me this great piece of information.
.
The metaphysics of Socrates and Plato influenced so much the Westernthought and brought enlightenment to the West that today "West"describes Plato as philosophy and philosophy as Plato. We in Indiaseem to have forgotten that that source of his writings and philosophywas Vedic metaphysics.
Plato left Athens for about one decade and visited Prasava (Persia),Ariana (Iran) and North West part of the then India-land of Aryans. Heseems to have discussed a number of metaphysical concepts with thethen Vedic Rsis and Munnies. On his return to Athens, he propagatedthose thoughts without making any reference to Vedic rsis and munnies.However, the influence of Vedic metaphysics is clearly visible inPlato's writings/books.
Like the Vedic concept of moderation and Iddm nan mmam (enlightenedliberalism) Plato mentions in his Laws (174-f) and also in Utopia thatin an Ideal state the range of economic disparities should be within1:16. If the range of disparity increases marginally, the state isless ideal. However, if it increases considerably, the state is eithera Democracy or an Oligarchy. The rulers in both tend to be tyrannical,corrupt, and hypocritical. In his metaphysics, Plato says that thesoul of virtuous people becomes lighter and goes toward heaven bymoving upward after death and that of the non-virtuous, being heavier,it stays near the earth and is the cause of rebirth. On rebirth,people may be born in one of the nine kinds of families professingdifferent faiths, religions, as well as in the different regions ofthe earth. Plato thus becomes one of the few ancient Westernphilosophers who gave a perfect philosophical theory on secularism anduniversal brotherhood which in the East Vedic rsis and munnies hadalready conveyed through Vedas.
In an ideal state, which he described as Republic,divine guidance is the maximum and in Tyranny it reaches its minimumand world dissolution (Vedic Pralaya) comes when that divine guidanceis totally withdrawn. Like Vedic metaphysics Plato confirms that lifein this vast turbulent ocean of matter- the material world is anillusion of comfort (Vedic Maya) and described the gross world as aphenomenal world. Plato held largely similar views like Vedic Rta(Laws of Nature) in his theory of Forms and Ideas. A few otherglimpses of Vedic metaphysics can also seen in Plato's writingsrelating to divinity in the noble vocations, social classes, educationsystem extending up to 48 years, value system and need based living,absolute nature of right and wrong and many other concepts. Like Vedashe mentioned worst thing about corruption is that it distorts theconcept of knowledge. He must have learnt about the ideal philosopherking Janaka of Bhagavad-Gita assisted by Rishi Yajnvalkya and RsikaGargi and developed the theory of "philosopher kings" for hisRepublic. His concept of economics and global trade has greatresemblance to Vedic economics and global trade.
While Plato propagated the Vedic concept of scientific temper, hisdisciple Aristotle spread the message of Physical Sciences of matterwith unsuspected vitality without referring to Vedas. Later many ofthese thoughts are found in the metaphysics of Saint Aquinas,Augustine, Immanuel Kant and many others including some scientistslike Newton, Einstein etc.
Note*-This article is written by Premssbhlok, I have received it as response to my earlier article on Rigveda. This article reinforces the fact that Vedas are pure pragmatic knowledge. Thanks Harkabir, for forwarding me this great piece of information.
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