Crossing the Sea of Self: Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Wisdom in Indian English Literature

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1. “You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water.” (Rabindranath Tagore) This urges karma yoga—acting in the world rather than remaining a passive observer, reflecting the Vedantic ideal of self-effort aligned with dharma.
2. “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” (R.K. Narayan) An invitation to cultivate śraddhā (attentive wonder), mirroring the rasa theory’s emphasis on sharpening our emotional perception to experience beauty.
3. “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.” (Arundhati Roy) Embodies dhvani (suggestion) through a whispered hope that transformation is imminent, resonating with the Nāṭyaśāstra’s idea of subtle emotional undercurrents.
4. “All things are inconstant except for the truth.” (Vikram Seth) Captures Advaita Vedanta’s non-dualist core: the world of flux (māyā) veils the underlying, unchanging satya (truth).
5. “The only thing that you can give to another person is your time.” (Ruskin Bond) Reflects the dharma of seva (selfless service), where offering presence embodies the highest form of care.
6. “The hardest thing is to be yourself in a world that is trying to make you like everyone else.” (Anita Desai) Speaks to the Advaitic pursuit of ātman realization—remaining true to the self amid societal conditioning.
These quotes not only uplift through their literary grace but also echo Indian Knowledge Systems. They also illustrate how rasa (emotional flavor) and dhvani (suggestion) operate in modern prose. You can explore how each author activates a distinct rasa, And connect Visually, Audially, and Emotionally to it. You can also reflect on “What action am I hesitating to take?” (Tagore) or “Where do I sense magic awaiting my notice?” (Narayan).
Note: IKS refer to the diverse traditional frameworks of knowledge native to India—encompassing domains such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Nātyaśāstra, Vedic mathematics, and more. Indian Knowledge Systems, or IKS, are India’s traditional ways of learning that blend ideas, skills, and everyday life into one big picture. Instead of studying subjects in isolation, IKS teach you to connect philosophy, art, science, and health so what you learn in theory can be used in real life. Knowledge often passes down directly from a teacher to a student—through stories, songs, and hands-on practice—so it’s always alive and it adapts to where you live. IKS also care deeply about living in balance with nature and helping everyone in the community, making it both practical for today and meaningful across generations.

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