Skip to main content

Samkhya and Cartesian Dualism

Descartes was the father of modern science. His vision of mind-body dualism (known as Cartesian dualism) led the foundation of science, which is based upon a dualistic conception of observer and observed. Descartes was a rationalist who did thought experiment to reach at the conclusion that Mind, Body (external nature), and God exist. Because no finite being could possibly exist without infinite reality. Newton went further and ensured to displace God from the realm of natural cosmic reality. But the central proposition of mind-body dualism remained as the foundation of modern science. Francis Bacon claimed that "we must put nature to rack to compel it to answer our questions". Here "We" denotes the reality of a rational mind, which is not subjected to the law of cosmos. Cosmos is a machine for Descartes, which is governed by mechanical law. On the contrary, mind is free from the bondage of mechanical law. It has freedom of will in Kantian systems of ethics. Because, human mind is capable to free itself from the regulated laws of cosmos.


Samkhya, on the contrary, is an enumerative tradition of philosophy which is the most old philosophical tradition in India. Kapil is credited for its origin. Samkhya is believed by many as non-vedic origin, but some scholars trace out its origin in Vedas, Brahman, and Upanishads. This philosophical tradition has unique blend of Upnishad's permanence in nature of Purusha (supreme consciousness) and Buddhist momentariness (Prakrati). Samkhaya considers that worldy reality consists of Purusha and Prakriti; conscious invisible reality and unconscious manifested reality. Prakriti has 25 Tattvas (elements), includes Mind, Intellect, and Ego. Contrary to Cartesian dualism, Samkhya treats mind (mann), Intellect (Buddhi), and Ego (Ahamkaar) as unconscious material reality. Mind is unconscious apparatus which may illuminate by Purusha's capacity to observe its limitation and material process of its equilibrium. As Samkhya propounds that all Prakriti is a composition of three gunas (qualities) Sat, Rajas, and Tamas. In case of disequilibrium of these three components the possibility of ego, or being appears. Prakriti, in that sense, is the source of the perceived world of being and becoming. It changes and its reality could be perceived by Purusha through Pratyaksha (perception), Anumana (inference), and Shabd (word). These are different sources of Jnana. Shantiparvan of Mahabharat ably depicts the importance of Jnana Yoga, because the liberation from ignorance is the true nature of Buddha. Samkhya has a vision to liberate the consciousness from the bondage of attachment which appears in treatment of Prakriti as real self. And one who observes the limitation and change of Prakriti does not get involved in the cacophony of existence. Samkhya is a great teacher, in a way, to instruct a vision to know that the biggest prison is ever made is our own mind. To liberate from it one has to remain vigilant through mind within mind  about mind.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Physical Basis of Conscious Life: A Synthesis of William James's Physiological Psychology

I Introduction: Bridging Physiology and Psychology William James, in his landmark work The Principles of Psychology, provides a foundational framework connecting the brain's physiological mechanisms to the purposive, selective, and unified nature of conscious mental life. This blog analyzes James’s synthesis, which grounds psychological phenomena in the material workings of the nervous system without reducing consciousness to a mere epiphenomenon. We will explore his hierarchical model of the brain, which evolves from simple reflex actions in the lower nerve centers to the complex, deliberative functions of the cerebrum. Key themes include the role of the cerebrum as an organ of foresight and prudence, the physiological mechanism of habit as the process by which experience physically imprints itself upon the brain’s plastic matter, and consciousness's essential function as a “selecting agency” that is causally efficacious in steering the organism toward its own interests. Ultim...
Post a Comment
Read more

Martin Heidegger's Deconstruction of the History of Ontology

I  Introduction In the opening pages of his magnum opus, Being and Time, Martin Heidegger resurrects a question he argues has been buried for millennia, framing his entire project with an epigraph from Plato’s Sophist: “For manifestly you have long been aware of what you mean when you use the expression ‘being’. We, however, who used to think we understood it, have now become perplexed.” This is no mere academic exercise but a deliberate reawakening of what Heidegger argues is the most fundamental and, paradoxically, the most forgotten question in the history of Western thought. For Heidegger, a pervasive “forgetfulness of Being” has characterized philosophy since antiquity, where the initial, vibrant inquiry into what it means “to be” solidified into a series of unexamined dogmas. The question was not answered and then set aside; rather, it fell into obscurity, concealed by the very traditions that were supposed to preserve it. This blog argues that Heidegger's critical "dest...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Glory of Belief Industry

Disappearance of questions is the pre-condition of artificial certainty. Therefore, it is profitable investment to establish and sustain the belief industry. This industry produces the efficient Man whose substratum is not the divine soul or mental faculty but a non-thinking mind which militantly conform the group solidarity of the masses. When answers are easily available and generated by the Artificial Intelligence, who will take the pain for thinking and unthinking or deliberating to develop logical capacity or for establishing the paradigm of truth? As Ashis Nandy explains the creative process which requires to meditate with the questions and to remain with the questions for a longer period of time to create and unveil the mask of deception. The artistry in epistemic creativity necessitates the patience caring of the questions. The cultivation and exploration of questions and mitigated skepticism to unravel what is said and unsaid, the expressions and silences. Even so called Dark ...
Post a Comment
Read more