Abstract
A study of the religio-philosophical texts reveals that the Indian way of examining a problem is to reach for the very root of the problem by unearthing its cause or causes and identifying the underlying psychological processes. This perspective involves a search for enduring solutions rather than short-term palliations. Understanding the etiology of a problem paves the way for the emergence of the solution which becomes self-evident at that point.
The present paper analyses sorrow and attempts to go into its etiology in the light of what has been said on the subject in the Indian religio-philosophical literature. Accordingly, it is suggested that the reasons for sorrow are: (a) the conception of a limited self; (b) the emergence of the quality of restless mobility or rajoguna; (c) dependence on external objects as sources of sukha (pleasure); and (d) the fear of separation from the source of sukha.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.