IKS as Gateways of ancestral wisdom

The Need for Ancestral Wisdom

Challenging Prevailing Assumptions

• Addresses the question: Why look to ancient knowledge for modern problems?
• Counterargument: Ancient wisdom is relevant because fundamental human challenges persist.
• Humans face recurring moral, ethical, and practical dilemmas. Therefore looking to the past for answers or patterns helps immensely.

Examples of Contemporary Challenges

• Relationship discord (marital disputes)
• Intergenerational conflicts (parent-child)
• Workplace dynamics (employer-employee dissatisfaction)
• Core issue: These challenges disrupt individuals and society.

Ancestral Wisdom as a Potential Solution

• The value of looking back to see how ancestors addressed similar problems.
• Premise: Many contemporary problems are not entirely new.
• "Wisdom Through Ages" - Application of historical solutions to solve contemporary problems.

How Ancestral Wisdom is Developed and Transmitted

• Accumulation of Experience: Learnings from the collective experience of people.
• Inference from Situations: Drawing conclusions from circumstances faced.
• Experimentation: Testing solutions through trial and error.
• Sharing and Storage: Preservation of knowledge through:
  • Oral tradition (stories from grandparents)
  • Literary works

Content and Scope of Ancestral Wisdom

• Beyond problem-solving, it encompasses broader cultural aspects:
  • Cultural practices
  • History
  • Science and Technology
  • Social Customs
  • Assumptions about Life
  • Prevailing Know-How

Finding and Accessing Ancestral Wisdom

Primary Sources

• Puranas:
  • Collections of stories, myths, and legends.
  • Contain historical narratives and cultural information.
  • Example: Bhagavata Purana.
• Itihasas:
  • Historical epics and narratives.
  • Example: Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Additional Literary Works

• Neetisastra:
  • Treatises on ethics, morality, and statecraft.
  • Provide guidance on leading a virtuous life.
  • Neeti itself means "that which leads".
• Subhasitas:
  • Aphorisms, proverbs, and wise sayings.
  • Promote social harmony and personal growth.
  • "Set of beautiful words."