Microsoft Word - Taimni - The Science of Yoga.doc

tion for certain systems of philosophy. That it is related to the hard facts of existence
and is based upon a close and scientific analysis of the phenomena of human life, they
would be hardly prepared to accept.
Purely academic philosophy has always been speculative and the essential task
of the expounder of a new philosophical system is considered to be to provide a plau-
sible explanation of the fundamental facts of life and existence. Some of these expla-
nations which form the basis of certain philosophical systems are extraordinarily in-
genious expositions and illustrations of reasoned thought, but they are purely specula-
tive and are based on the superficial phenomena of life observed through the
senses. Philosophy is considered to be a branch of learning concerned with evolving
theories about life and the Universe. Whether these theories are correct and help in
solving the real problems of life is not the concern of the philosopher. He has only to
see that the theory which he puts forward is intellectually sound and provides an ex-
planation of the observed facts of life with the maximum of plausibility. Its value lies
in its rationality and ingeniousness and possibly intellectual brilliance, not in its ca-
pacity to provide a means of overcoming the miseries and sufferings incidental to hu-
man life. No wonder academic philosophy is considered barren and futile by the com-
mon man and treated with indifference, if not with veiled contempt.
Now, in the East, though many ingenious and purely speculative philosophies
have been expounded from time to time, philosophy has been considered, on the
whole, as a means of expounding the real and deeper problems of human life and pro-
viding clear-cut and effective means for their solution. There is not much demand for
purely speculative systems of philosophy and such as exist are treated with a kind of
amused tolerance as intellectual curiosities—nothing more. The great problem of hu-
man life is too urgent, too serious, too profound, too awful to leave any room for the
consideration of mere intellectual theories, however brilliant these might be. If your
house is on fire you want a means of escape and are not in a mood to sit down and read
a brilliant thesis on architecture at that time. Those who can remain satisfied with
purely speculative philosophies have not really understood the great and urgent prob-
lem of human life and its deeper significance. If they see this problem as it really is
then they can be interested only in such philosophies as offer effective means for its
solution.
Although the perception of the inner significance of the real problem of human
life is dependent upon an inner change in consciousness and awakening of our spiritual