FILSAFAT ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER DALAM PERSPEKTIF AGAMA HINDU

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship and relevance between Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy and Hindu spiritual teachings, particularly as presented in the Bhagavadgītā. The research employs a library research approach using qualitative methods and a hermeneutic-philosophical framework. This approach is applied to interpret the texts and conceptual meanings in depth, both in Schopenhauer’s philosophy and in the metaphysical teachings of the Bhagavadgītā. The analysis reveals essential similarities between Schopenhauer’s idea of the denial of the will (Willensverneinung) as a path to liberation from suffering, and the Hindu concept of liberation (mokṣa) through knowledge and detachment from worldly attachments (vairāgya). Both are based on the understanding that suffering originates from desire and individual ego, and that liberation can only be attained through a transformation of consciousness toward a reality that transcends duality. However, a fundamental difference lies in the theological context: Schopenhauer rejects the concept of a personal God and emphasizes the immanent metaphysical aspect of reality, whereas the Bhagavadgītā positions Brahman as the ultimate consciousness, both transcendent and immanent. The study concludes that Schopenhauer’s philosophical thought can be understood as a rational reflection that resonates with the mystical-metaphysical dimension of Hindu teachings. This demonstrates a universal convergence between ethical, aesthetic, and spiritual principles that underpin thought in both Western philosophical traditions and Eastern spirituality.