Indian Philosophy

Importance Element of Indian Philosophy

1. Place of Authority : There are many philosophical question that a human being
faces like, is there God? Does he exist or who created the world? What is the cause
of the world? Philosophy tries to answer these questions by employing, imaginations
and reasoning to find answers consistent with already established experience.
Philosophy proceeds from known to unknown. The foundation of the philosophy is
experience. Experience which is based on ordinary or normal experience.

However some schools of Indian philosophy do not except that complete or full
knowledge can not be urn or form ordinary experience. Thus philosophy must
depend on the experiences of the few saints, seers or prophets who had direct
realization or Darshana or Sak Sat Kara.

2. Reasoning : In Indian philosophy reasoning plays the important role. Reasoning

is the main instrument of speculation. The majority of the schools of Indian
philosophy are not based on independent reasoning and thus they are dogmatic.
However many schools are based on critical free thinking.

Reasoning plays the important role in Indian Philosophy and also became a part of
life some of these philosophies was lived by philosopher and handed down their
succeeding generation or followers.

For Indian Philosophy way are directly or indirectly is responsible for most of the
philosophical speculation from were different schools of philosophy originated.

Vedas became be authority for the Orthodox School of Indian Philosophy. However
many of these schools also use “Sutra” literally means thread. Sutra’s were the
originally old traditions handed down from one generation to another generation,
which were later collected by different founders of these different philosophical
schools.

Different Sutras : The Sutra work was the collection of many Sutras arrange into
different chapter under different topics. Few Sutras that we have. The Sutra of
Jaimani who used in the Mimansa Philosophy, for Naya Philosophy Gautama used a

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collection of Sutras Vaisesika Philosophy. Patanjali used collection of Sutra for a

Yoga Philosophy. Kapila used collection of Sutras for a Sankhya Philosophy.

However many are these Sutras are not original, some of the Sutras are very brief
and not clear, which demanded commentaries are known as “Bhahyas”.

Indian Philosophy through different schools of thought present a diversity of use.

However they have a common stand for Indian culture which is called unity of
moral and spiritual outlook.

One of the important things of Indian Philosophy is that all these systems regard
philosophy as a practical necessity and cultivate it in ordered to understand how to
lead the life in best way.

Philosophy : Philosophy is in this widest sense means love for knowledge.

Knowledge about himself, knowledge about God, World, life after death and all
these things. Dealing with Metaphysical… Eventually philosophy deals with
problems which unanswered by physical world. Philosophy springs from a desire of
knowledge. It is because of the rational nature of human beings. Therefore
philosophy is attempt to satisfy the reasonable desire of rational thinking.
Philosophy is also which governs a human being. Philosophy deals with
metaphysical world, because human being it is impossible for human being to live
without metaphysic, so the question is not there is metaphysics no meta but the
question is good metaphysics and bad metaphysics.

Indian Philosophy

Nastikawad is call heterodox and Astikawad is called Orthodox school. 7th century
or 600 BC. Revolt against the Vedic philosophy, Jain and Buddhisim , Carvak they
three are rejected Veda on the authority. They are called revolt.

Indian school of Philosophy some time also called as Hindu Philosophy. Only when
the word “Hindu” taken in a geographical context. Indian philosophy is divided into
two schools of thought one is known as Astikawad or Orthodox School of
Philosophy and the second is known as “Nastikawad” or Heterodox School of
Philosophy. The criteria of division of two classes is not god, but the expectance of

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the authority of Veda. The Astikawad or orthodox is further divided into two class or
sub division the 1st division is those philosophies which are directly based upon
Vedic text. 1st one is Vedanta Philosophy, which these based on the speculative
aspect of Veda text that is known as Vedant text. Another class of which emphases
or ritualistic aspect known as Mimansa Philosophy. In the Orthodox School of
Philosophy there are these philosophies which have independent text and they are
not directly based upon Vedic text. These are Sankhya, Naya, Yoga, Vaisesika
Philosophy.

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Carvaka Philosophy

(Eat, dirnk, materialist world) Sanskrit Word = Eat.

Carvaka philosophy has different hypothesis which is not about its ture.

1st one it is known as a materialistic philosophy.

2nd hypothesis Carvaka means eat, because it reaches eat, drink and be merry.

3rd hypothesis Carvaka also means “Caru” means nice or good Vaka means words.
So good words or nice words. It is accepted that Brahaspati is the founder of
materialism, because there are some Vedic references found. It is also accepted that
Brahaspati who was the teacher of gods propagated this materialistic view among
the gainds who were the enemies of god, so that through this philosophical teaching
they were many be (running). Some times this philosophy also called as
“Lokayatmata” philosophy which literally means the views of common man or
Lokayatamata.

Critical evaluation of Carvak Philosophy

Epistomonology Carvak or it understanding : For Carvak philosophy, the whole

philosophy is based logically on their epistomonology or which is also known as
theory of the knowledge. In Carvak the importance given as how we acquired
knowledge and how the knowledge originated and developed.

1. Inference : According to Carvak philosophy, inference if it is regarded as

“Pramana” it must give us the real knowledge without any doubt and it true to
reality. According to Carvak philosophy inference can not give us true reality. For
Carvak Philosophy inference because of the perceive notion or perceive smoke and
it lead us to unperceived fire. According to Carvak philosophy, there is a major
premise (there is smoke) and there is inference, that this smoke because of fire,
Indian philosophy calls it as “Vyapti”. This Vyapti according to Carvak Philosophy,
can only we established perfectly when we known have knowledge of all types of
smokes. However we can not have all the knowledge and so the Vyapti is
established by the perfection. This perfection can also be based on “Sabda”. And all
this depends on the testimony of the person and one’s own knowledge.

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Carvak Philosophy only excepts perception of the source of the knowledge.

However what will happened to the knowledge of object who stand beyond our
perception, like god, heaven, hell, soul, life after death because all these objects and
knowledge about these objects is beyond perception and so perception is valid only
for material world, which are compose on four “Bhutas”. Namely Air, Fire, Water
and Earth.

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Sankhya Philosophy

Sankhya philosophy which means numbers, also can means calculations of numbers,
it could also means sum of numbers. In broader term Sankhya philosophy could be
the means of right knowledge. It is one of the oldest system of philosophy suppose
to have been established by a great sage Kapila, some were around 500 BC. Because
there were some text or Sutra which were found which came to known as also
Sankhya Sutra by Kapila. This Sutra was also called Sankhya Pravachana known as
Sankhya Pravachana Sutra. That is why Sankhya philosophy is called as Sankhya
Pravachana. This philosophy also called “Nir Ishwara Sankhya” were is Yoga
philosophy called as “Ishvara Sankhya” and it is also called “theistic Sankhya”.

Although the origin of Sankhya philosophy is mysterious or not clear, not

authenticated, but it is accepted that Sankhya mean “Samayag Gyana” which means
right knowledge of reality by the eneneration of ultimate objects of knowledge and
so it is known as perfect knowledge.

Theory of Causation : According to Sankhya philosophy it depends or theory of

causation depend on th Satkarma Veda. It is the theory of effects into that object or
material. According to Sankhya the effects already exists in the material. According
to Sankhya it depends on following principal.

1. principal : The effects is already existence of object or effects pre-exists of object.

2. principal : There is an invariable relation between material cause and its effects.

3. principal : Certain effects can be exists in the cause or certain effects can be
produces certain causes.

4. principal : According to Sankhya portant cause can produces certain causes.

Basic elements of Sankhya philosophy or Ultimate reality : According to Sankhya

philosophy, Sankhya philosophy admits or accepts Purusha and Prakrti. Both is
ultimate realities are independent, the Purusha is the intelligent principal, it’s
different from matter, it is the vary essence, it is difference from consciousness, it is
beyond the world of object and is the eternal consciousness, it is eternal unchanging.
According to Sankhya philosophy, Purusha is beyond all empirical attributes.

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Prakrti : According to Sankhya philosophy, Prakrti is ultimate cause of the world. It

is the eternal unconscious principal. It is ever changing. According Sankhya
philosophy the consciousness of self is reflected and it appear as in consciousness, it
is the creative thought of the world. Prakrti constitute by three Gunas. (1) Satva (2)
Rajas (3) Tamas

Tamas : Tamas is a principal of negativity in things it resists the principal of Rajas.

It is some time called as darkness because of it’s contrast the power of manifestation
of mind their by producing ignorance. It is cause of Moha-Maya.

The Concept of World : According to Sankhya the Prakrti in realtion with Purusha
evolved in the word there is some Yoga between Prakrti and Purusha matter. It is
like when body moves its influence by thought. According Sankhya philosophy there
can be no evolution unless both Prakrit and Purusha come into a special
relationship. The world cannot revolved only itself and also it can not revolved
primer matter. The activity of the Prakrti must be influence rather in must be guided
by the intelligence of Purusha.

Originally Sankhya philosophy was esthetic philosophy but inference of Buddha

philosophy, Jain philosophy and also its understanding of Sam Yoga (process of
joining of Purusha with Prakrti resulting evolution of the world). This stand make
Sankhya philosophy almost argue or reject the existence of God. Sankhya philosophy
also excepted that God being eternally unchanging principal cannot be the cause of
the ever changing world. The cause unless it changes itself in the process of
causation cannot be the cause.

Sankhya even rejects god as controller of nature because the world is imperfect and
not in proper order. God cannot be control because in the process of controlling god
has undergoing change. There is so much evil in the world and beloevent god so
much evil.

Doctrine of libration in Sankhya Philosophy : Life is filled with pleasures of life

and the sorrows which argues to the Karma’s of life. These pleasures and sorrows of
life are also part of the death and life. Sankhya philosophy distinguishes three kinds
of pain. (1) Adhyatmika (2) Adi Bhautika (3) Adgudauvuja.

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1) Adhyatmika : It’s because of the bodily disorders and mental affliction.

2) Adi Bhautika : This pain is cause because of external causes like pinching,
hitting.

3) Adgudauvuja : This pain is cause of the extra organic or supernatural causes.

Calamities.

According to Sankhya philosophy there are infinite numbers of soul and they are all
different. They all have different…. Organs. They are all eternally perfect, by nature
they are pure, existence and conscious. The soul gets into the experience of pain and
pleasure because of lack of knowledge (Buddhi) because of ego and is subjected to a
processes of birth and re-birth. In this state liberation, according to Sankhya
philosophy. Libration according to Sankhya is soul being freed from desires and
allurements of world. Ego will subdued and realizing the ignorance and attaining
Buddhi through raising. This Sankhya philosophy salvation lies is being free from
loss of the world action.

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Yoga Philosophy

Yoga philosophy and Sankhya philosophy are very close to each other in principles.
The epistemology and the metaphysics are same, but Yoga philosophy goes beyond
Sankhya philosophy. One of the prime difference between Yoga is the concept of
God. Yoga philosophy is the ethics philosophy were god is central of the Yoga
philosophy. Concept of librates in Yoga philosophy is through the Yoga Path or
“Asnas” which are essential to libration.

Citta : This is also called as “Buddhi.” In Yoga philosophy individual or Jiva is

regarded as the free spirit. It is associated with body and more closely related to the
settle body constructed by the senses the Manas, the Ego and the Intellect.
According to Yoga philosophy self is pure consciousness free from limitation of
body and the fluctuation of mind which is called Citta.

The self or the Jiva knows the objects of the world, through the modification of
Citta. Although self does not undergo any change or modification but because of its
reflection in changing state the self appears to the subject to change.

Mode of Citta : The mental cognitive states of Citta are many and varied. These
states can be classified under different headings.

1. Pramana, this s also called as right cognition mode.

2. Viparyaya, this is also called as the false state of cognition.

3. Vikalpa, it is the verbal cognition of the mode of Citta.

4. Nidra, this is the state of Citta were the cognition is absent.

5. Smiriti, this is the state were the Citta goes to the recollection of past experiences.

According Yoga Darshanshastra the first mode or Pramanas is of three kinds,

Preception, Inference, Shabda.

Yoga philosophy distinguishes sufferings and classifies them under five heads.

1. Avidhya (Ignorance)

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2. Asmita (Persons ego)

3. Raga (the worldly attachments)

4. Dvesa (Aversion)

5. Abhinivesha (this can be term as claiming to life and also fear of death)

Four level of Citta : According Yoga philosophy there are four level of Citta or the
concentration. According to Yoga, Citta is attached with impurities of Rajas which
is manifested in “Sattva.”

The first level is called “Ksipta”, it is a state of Citta or mind which is attached to
Rajas Tamas and it attached to the attractions of sense object and love for attaining
power.

The second state is known as “Mudha” this is a state where Citta is an access of
Tamas (Darkness, Arrogance).

The third state is known as “Viksipta”. This is state where the mind or Citta is free
from influence of Tamas but it only influence by Rajas. This is state of temporary
concentration.

The forth state is known as “Ekagra” or concentration. This is a state where Citta or
mind is beref (empty) of all the impurities of Rajas and there is perfect manifestation
of Satva.

The fifth level of state is known as “Niruddha” which is a cession of all mental
distraction and mind and Citta is original without modification and it is state of
tranquility and calmness.

The Eight Fold Method of Yoga : According Yoga Darshanshastra there are eight
steps….

1. Yogana, this is also called as Yama. This is a state of self restrain it is includes the
abstention from all evil path of life.

2. Niyama, this is method in Yoga philosophy which calls for discipline of

purification.

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3. Asana, this discipline of practice of bodily posture. It is physical exercise which

helps in concentration and control of mind.

4. Pranayama, this is discipline which tries to control of breath and helps in

concentration. It is of three (3) stages (1) Inhaling of air breath (2) Retaining (3)……

5. Pratyahara, it is the stage in Yoga eight fold method which calls for withdrawal
of external sense organ from their object.

6. Dharana, this is stage which involves the mental discipline which called for
holding fixing the mind of desire object.

7. Dhyana, this is the stage where it is known as meditation, when the mind
develops continues meditation.

8. Samadhi, final stage of practice of Yoga, it is stage where mind uses itself, and so
deeply observe it object of the contemplation and it unaware of itself.

According to Yoga philosophy there are two kind of Samadhi.

1. Samprajnata, this is the Samadhi where consciousness of the object of meditation

continues.

2. Asamprajnata, it is also called super conscious, where the consciousness is

transcendent, it is also called “Ekagra” or Nirddha.

Concept of God in Yoga Philosophy :

Yoga is theistic philosophy and it accept it govern existence of god, both in practical
and theory. According Yoga Darshanshastra god is the supreme person and he is
without any defect who is perfect and all pervading, he is omnipotent and
omniscient. The soul or individual self is subjected to Klesh because of ignorance,
desire, aversion, ego. This is because of their Karmas and read their consequences,
where god is free from all defects and Klesh. Yoga Darashanshastra accept god as
immoral spirit, who untouch by affliction and Karmas.

According Yoga Darshanshastra there is Karma and transmigration. Soul can attain
Samadhi through the devotion of god. God removes the evil from the life of devotee
and makes the attainment of Yoga easier for him. God removes all the defects from

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the soul. According Yoga Darshanshastra god is the “Supreme Purusha” and he is
uncondition by Kala (time). The creation of the world according Yoga
Darshanshastra is association of Purusha with Prakrati, so according to Yoga
Darshanshastra god creates through Prakrati.

The Proof About Gods Existence :

1. God exists because Veda testifies it.

2. God exists because there is law of continuity and that there was free highest …….

3. God is responsible for the Yoga of Purusha and Prakrati or association and
disassociation Purusha and Prakrati.

4. Devotion to god is the surest way to obtain concentration and eventually the
libration.

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