Indian Thought in Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman

                                                                                                                     -V.K. Chari

Vedanta philosophy was one of the several thought currents from abroad. It reached American in the early decades of the 19^th century. It influenced the thinking of the American writers Emerson and Thoreau. In this essay V.K. Chari analysis how vadantic philosophy has influenced the writing of Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman.

Emerson was influenced by the Hindu’s scripture, when he was at Harvard University. He knew “Laws of Manu, Vishnupurana, the Bhagvad-Gita and Katha Upanishad” and refers to them in his Journals and Essays. Thoreau was also influenced by oriented writing. When he was at Havard University. He read an essay written by Sir William Jones. In 1843, he published selected passages from “Laws of Manu”. He translated a story “The Transmigration of Brahman’s from a French version of the Sanskrit “Harivansa”. In 1844, he published Excerpts from Buddhist Scripture under the title “The Preaching of Buddha” in the Dial.

Emerson, Thoreau and other Transcendentalists are interested in the concept of “Selfhood”, found in Hindu’s scripture. According to this the central core of one’s self (antarateman) is identifiable with the cosmic whole (Brahman). The Upanishads state that the self within as immortal, the internal of all beings and is also the universal Brahman. The Transcendentalists use these doctrines in their writing there by attempt to develop a spiritual kinship.

In the essay “The Plato” or “the philosopher” Emerson writes that “The Concept of fundamental Unity”. It means the ecstasy of losing all being in the being”. This Emerson quotes who says to the sage that “you are not distinct from me”. According to him, the soul in all bodies is one, uniform perfect .

While formulating his concept of over-soul Emerson quotes Krishna. Krishna says that within everyman there is the soul of the whole. Though he lives in parts each part is equally related to the eternal ONE. In the poem “Brahma” Emerson quotes this vedantic philosophy.

“I am the doubter and the doubt”

Henry David Thoreau was also attracted to oriented thought and philosophy. The simple life of us him a degree of freedom, refined, pleasure and repleteness. Thoreau lived a life of meaning by understanding the truth of his own nature, his relationship with his fellow man, Nature and the universe. He got interest in Yoga. In “Walden” he describes a state of mind that resemblance the experience effect of the mind, one can stand aloof from the actions and their consequences and what his life like Indra.

Walt Whitman published “Leaves of Grass” in 1855. In Song of Myself he introduced the concepts of selfhood which is found in the Upanishad and the ”Bhagvad Gita” he finds the world in the self and as the self.

“what is a man anyhow? What am I? and what are you?

At the same time, Whitman goes against Indian philosophy. He praises body like the soul and considers that material progress is important as spiritual progress.

Thus the American Transcendalists   Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman are influenced by their Indian Philosophy.