Continued from Part 3
In this final part of his lecture, Dr. Kundan Singh emphasises the need for Indian academics to master the Indian systems of thought as well as the Western systems of thought if they wish to truly contribute to an integral renaissance of Indian civilisation. He speaks of this as a special yoga which must be done in the right spirit, not by making the mind and thought as the be-all and end-all of every effort but by recognising that this is only a preparation for becoming an instrument of the Divine in playing a role in the recovery and renewal of this civilisation.
While briefly describing the integral nature of Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga, Dr. Singh emphasises that it is that kind of synthesis which is the need of the hour, not a mix-and-match kind of potpourri that goes on in the name of cross-cultural interactions which are not grounded in the true knowledge and understanding of either the Indian or the Western knowledge systems.
He concluded his talk about the need for developing a greater and deeper self-knowledge – both as an individual and as a civilisation if we want to truly contribute to the Indian renaissance. He reminded the audience that Sri Aurobindo transcended all the binaries of tradition and modernity, conservatism and progressivism, India and the World, and that is what we must remember when invoking any of his writings as guides for our march ahead as a civilisation.
~ Beloo Mehra