The process of transforming knowledge is always two way communication. There are not only Indian Writers who were influenced by Western Philosophy or Ideas, But there are also many Western scholars who were also influenced by Indian philosophy and make use of it in their writings also. Some of them are…
T.S.Eliot
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Herman Hesse
W.B.Yeats etc.
T.S.Eliot's magnum opus "The Waste Land" is the prominent example of the use of Indian Philosophy in Western Literature. And this particular blog is structured in order to throw some light on the use of Indian thoughts in 'The Waste Land.'
The Waste Land is an Modern Epic poem revolves around the major idea of Spiritual Degradation and Sexual Perversion. The plot of the poem is allusive and elliptical but at the same time flooded with richness of different references. Where Eliot makes the use of different images, symbols and references from Christianity, Biblical significance, Use of Indian philosophy from Buddhism to Upanishads. Use of Greek Mythology to Modern Metaphors helps to establish poem as an Universal peace of writing. The plot of the poem divided into five major parts…..
Indian Thoughts in The Waste Land
T.S. Eliot was profoundly attracted towards Indian philosophy during his college years and from that point he started taking interest in learning Indian Philosophy, and also turned towards Hinduism and Buddhism.
In his poem Waste Land he portrayed the devastated land after the World War First. Changing dynamics of Modern cities and Modern people ended with chaos, despair and spiritual sterility. And in order to Find answers for the Modern Problems he refers to Indian Philosophy as a solution or way to regeneration of Life. The Fire Sermon and What the Thunder Said are two parts in which Eastern philosophy reflected more. Let's understand how it is woven by Eliot.
The Fire Sermon
The concept of Fire Sermon is taken from Adittapariyaya Sutta, a sacred book of Buddhism. In which Buddha preaches a sermon called The Fire Sermon. Which taught human beings how to liberate yourself from all these worldly materialistic wants. To liberate self one should avoid all worldly desires and passions. And the particular word given for that is 'Detachment.' Eliot writes….
To Carthage then I came
Burning burning burning burning
O Lord Thou pluckest me out
O Lord Thou pluckest
burning
So, The word burning pointed out detachment from all the so-called human wants. By burning self meaning emptying self in Buddhism sense. The English writer Stephen Spender in his essay "Remembering Eliot" pointed out Eliot's interest in Buddhism and said…
"A Buddhist is as immanent as a
Christian in The Waste Land"
What the Thunder Said
The significance and essence of the whole fragmented poem can be noticed in these last lines of poem which are taken from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad….
"Datta, Dayadhvam and Damyata,
Shantih, Shantih, Shantih."
The above mentioned line suggests The Prajapati(Brahma, The Creator) preaching to his three offspring, Devtas, Danav and Manav. And he gave the shlok of three 'Da' which became Datta for Devta, Dayadhvam for Danav and Damyata for Man. And the meaning of these three Da are respectively Be Compassionate(Giver), Self-sacrifice and Self-control. So, This is the three word formula of Da which is taken from Upanishad, and here Eliot uses it as a solution to heightened the spiritual life of Modern man.
Now, Shantih is a very much used phrase in many Sankrit incantations. Here threefold significance of Shantih is explained by G.Nageswara Rao…
"Word Shantih is purposely repeated thrice to indicate the absolute three-dimensional peace resulting from freedom from all disturbance, From within, from above and from around"
So, These are some of the Indian references from Buddhism and From Upanishad which are used by Eliot to make the juxtaposition between past and present. And these references come as an arrow of hope which enlighten the human soul and also the concluding part of Eliot's poem. He himself in his letter to Bernard Russell said that….
"It as not only the best part but
the part that justifies the whole"
References
Adittapariyaya Sutta
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
The Waste Land By T.S.Eliot
Very nice work
ReplyDeleteVery nice discrimination.
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