Gymnosophists

As gymnosophists (formed from ancient Greek γυμνός Gymnos "naked" and ancient Greek σοφία sophía = " wisdom " in Greek γυμνοσοφισταί, "naked way " ) designated the Greeks Indian ascetics, which Alexander the Great had met during his campaign to India. About their views and ways of life reported Onesicritus, which was specially sent by Alexander to the gymnosophists because they refused to follow Alexander's invitation and Alexander found it inappropriate to personally go to the gymnosophists.

The end of the encounter

I removed about 5 kilometers from Taxila Onesicritus encountered 15 gymnosophists who spent naked in different postures in the hot sun. The Gymnosophist Calanus had asked him to undress too, if he want to share in the wisdom and the dialogues gymnosophists. Mandanis, the oldest site, but I have intervened and taken up with Onesicritus to talking about their own views as well as the teachings of Pythagoras, Socrates and Diogenes.

Worldview and way of life

According to the gymnosophists supersaturation and luxury were a source of evil. Before the people of the veneer would have resulted, had prevailed a state of paradise. There had been bubbling springs full of water, milk, oil, honey and wine. Since the blindness of the people had been a thorn in the eye of God, however, he had run dry, the sources and forced people to eke out a living working hard. Thus, the virtue itself had re-expanded, again an abundance of good things has given rise to. Just got out a second time for audacity, so the risk that everything is lost. Accordingly, the gymnosophists practiced ascetic virtue. They advocated the liberation of the soul of pleasure and pain. The suffering of the body they saw it as an effective means to heal the suffering of the soul. Disease was regarded them as such shame that they may possibly prefer burned in stoic silence on a home-built pyre.

Social position

Obviously, the gymnosophists enjoyed great prestige in ancient India. It was allowed them to serve without pay at market stalls and they had access to the homes of the wealthy, where they verköstigte. Even women's quarters, they were allowed to enter.