63 Nayanmars?

Socrates and Sankaracharya

(Similarities found between the two with respect to Grecian and Hindu mythologies)

I was reading about Socrates and Plato in our good old wikipedia. I found many of the dialogues or thoughts of Greek philosophy to be in sync with Hindu mythology.

For example the Socratic method - a learning methodology where two individuals inquire and debate between them by asking and answering questions that stimulate critical thinking to illuminate ideas.

This methodology is the fundamental concept of the Upanishads. Prashna Upanishad tells the story of Sage Pippalada and his six disciples. All the disciples wish to know the Brahman and ask their master to answer their questions. The ensuing conversation forms a question and answer session through which the students become wiser.

It must be noted here that Plato and his master Socrates are believed to have lived around 450 B.C. This makes them contemporaries to Adhi Sankaracharya, who as debated by many, had lived in India during the same time and preached the doctrines of Vedas and Upanishads.

Emphasis need not be laid to a philosopher’s date as long as his preaching is remembered. Hence, we will focus on the ideology of these wise men.

Socrates was deeply attached to the concept of the “love of wisdom” – the central theme of the Upanishads and Sankaracharya.

Further, Socrates also believed in the immortality of the soul – yet another concept found in the Hindu mythology.

Plato followed Socrates’ footsteps and said, “Wisdom is the right relations between all that exists.” This was one of the several advocacies put forth by Sankaracharya about wisdom.

Here’s a comparison of Plato’s thoughts and the Purusha Sukhtham. I was startled to see the similarities in both. Plato says that -
“….the human society has a ‘tripartite class structure corresponding to the appetite/spirit/reason structure of the individual soul. The appetite/spirit/reason stand for different parts of the body. The body parts symbolize the castes of society. “

Plato states these classifications are productive, protective and governing. I am providing these classifications along with those mentioned in the Purusha Sukhtham of Hindu Vedic literature. The sanskrit verses are also given alongside, though you might want to forgive me for the misspelled words.

• Productive, which represents the abdomen. (Workers) — the labourers, carpenters, plumbers, masons, merchants, farmers, ranchers, etc. These correspond to the "appetite" part of the soul.

the Vaishyas (Men with business acumen)from his thighs, and the Shudras (Men who Work) from his feet. (ooru thadat yath vaishyaha; pathbhyagum shoodra ajayatha - the merchants from his abdomen and the laborers from his legs)

Note – Though the matching of ‘abdomen’ stated by Plato and ‘thighs’ indicated by Purusha sukhtham may not be correct, we can overlook the same. Abdomen is often referred to as the lower part of the body and hence, thighs can be considered a part of the same.

• Protective, which represents the chest. (Warriors or Guardians) — those who are adventurous, strong and brave; in the armed forces. These correspond to the "spirit" part of the soul.
  the Kshatriyas (Men with strength) from his arms, (Kavooru rajanyah kruthaha - Warriors were created from the arms of God).

Note – Again the matching of ‘chest’ with ‘arms’ – which we can overlook.

• Governing, which represents the head. (Rulers or Philosopher Kings) — those who are intelligent, rational, self-controlled, in love with wisdom, well suited to make decisions for the community.
  the Brahmins (Learned men) were made from Purusha's mouth (Brahmanosya mukham aseeth - the priests were from his head)
  
  This article is only to outline some of the similarities found in various philosophies around the world.