Tagore's philosophy is based on his worldview. He analyzed the relationship between man and the universe from a unique perspective, and further expounded his outlook on life, epistemology, religion and social ideal. The relationship between man and the universe is the core of analyzing and understanding Tagore's thought.
What is the relationship between man and the universe, or between man and nature?
Before answering this question, Tagore first compared the characteristics of ancient Greece and India. In his view, ancient Greek civilization and Indian civilization are very different in dealing with the relationship between man and nature. Ancient Greek civilization is a kind of urban civilization, which was conceived within the city walls. The wall is a barrier that separates people from nature and prevents people from contacting nature freely. At the same time, this gap has left a deep imprint on people's hearts, which will make people form a habit. Anyone who crosses the barrier will be suspicious and think that he is an alien or hostile. Therefore, the characteristic of Greek civilization is to conquer nature and take pride in it. They regard nature outside the city as an alien, strive to conquer nature, and demand and plunder more things from nature for their own use. In addition, they also believe that all kinds of things in nature are basically inanimate or animals, they have no reason and emotion, and people can't communicate with them. Indian civilization is different from Greek civilization. Ancient Indian civilization was born in the forest. When Aryans first entered India, India was a vast forest area. The forest first provided them with a hidden place to escape from the scorching sun, heat and storms, and also provided them with wood for building houses, pasture for raising livestock, fuel for worshipping gods, and fire, water and food for their survival. A large number of Aryan tribes settled in the forest area and depended on the forest for survival. Therefore, Tagore said:
In India, the birth of civilization began in the forest, and this origin and environment have formed unique characteristics. Indian civilization is surrounded by the vast life of nature, which provides food, clothing, housing and transportation, and maintains the closest and most frequent communication with nature in all aspects.
In Tagore's view, Indian civilization has two characteristics different from Greek or western civilization: (1) Indians maintain a harmonious and unified relationship with nature. Indians don't feel out of touch with nature or obstacles like Greeks. On the contrary, they live in nature, rely on nature, and maintain the closest and most harmonious relationship with nature. Once they leave nature, they can't survive. (2) Indians regard everything in nature as alive, emotional and spiritual. People and things in the natural world are interlinked in spirit, and people can communicate with each other. He said: "Everything has spiritual significance in the eyes of Indians."
So Tagore does not agree with westerners that man and the universe are the relationship between conquest and conquest. He believes that man and the universe are in a harmonious and unified relationship.