Gita Rahasya -Tilak 81

Karma Yoga Sastra -Tilak

CHAPTER IV THE MATERIALISTIC THEORY OF HAPPINESS (ADHIBHAUTIKA SUKHAVADA) From my statement above, that Materialistic philosophers are apathetic about the science of the Atman or about the next world, one must not draw the conclusion that all the learned persons who subscribe to this path, are selfish, self- centered or immoral. There belong to this school high-minded philosophers like Comte, Spencer, Mill, and others, who most earnestly and enthusiastically preached that striving for the benefit of the whole world by making at least one's worldly outlook as comprehensive as possible (if one does not believe in the next world), is the highest duty of every man; and as their works are replete with the most noble and deep thoughts, they ought to be read by every one. Although the paths of the science of Proper Action are many, yet, so long as one has not given the go-bye to the external ideal of 'the benefit of the world', one must not ridicule a philosopher on the ground that his method of dealing with the philosophy of Ethics is different from one's own. I shall now precisely and in their proper order, consider the various divi- sions into which the modern or ancient Materialistic philoso- phers fall, as a result of differences of opinion between them as to whether the external material happiness which has to be considered for determining the ethical propriety or impropriety of an action is one's own happiness or the happiness of another, and whether of one person or of several persons; and I shall also consider to what extent these opinions are proper or faultless. The first of these classes is of those who maintain the theory of pure selfish happiness. This school of thought says that there is no such thing as life after death or as philan- thropy; that all Metaphysical sciences have been written by dishonest people to serve their own ends; that the only thing which is real in this world is one's own interest; and that, that act by which this self-interest can be achieved or whereby one can promote one's own material happiness is the most just, the most proper, and the most meritorious act. This opinion was, at a very early date, vociforously proclaimed in India by Carvaka. and the mischievous advice given by Jabali to Sri Rama at the end of the Ayodhyakanda of the Ramayana, as also the Kanikaniti in the Mahabharata, pertains to this school of thought. The opiniom of the illustrious Carvaka was that when the five primordial elements are fused together, they acquire the quality of an. Atman, and when the body is burnt, the Atman is burnt with. it; therefore, a wise man should not bother about the Atman,. but should enjoy himself so long as life lasts, even borrowing. money for the purpose, if necessary; one should rnam krtva ghrtam pibet ", i. e., "borrow money and drink clarified butter",. because there is nothing after death.