Indian Philosophies

INDIAN PHILOSOPHIES

Indian Philosophy refers to several traditions of philosophical thought that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Indian philosophies can be classified into two groups Orthodox and heterodox.

Under Orthodox - There are six major schools of vedic philosophy Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimansa , and Vedanta.

SAMKHYA SCHOOL ( KAPIL MUNI)

1) It postulates that everything, in reality, stems from Purusha (self or soul or mind) and Prakriti (matter, creative agency, energy).

2) Samkhya posits the existence of an infinite number of similar but separate purushas, none superior to any other.

3) Advaita Vedanta derives its base from this school.

4) It accepts only three types of knowledge (pramana):

Pratyaksha: Perception

Anumana: Inference

Shabda: Hearing

YOGA SCHOOL (PATANJALI)

1) It postulates that one can achieve salvation by combining meditation and physical application.

2) The objective of Yoga is- to better oneself physically, mentally and spiritually

3) It is believed that practicing Ashtanga Yoga will lead to liberation.

4) Yoga acknowledges God's existence as a teacher and guide.

View of Patanjali: Yoga does not mean union but the spiritual effort to attain perfection through controlling the body, senses and mind and through right discrimination between Purusa and Prakrti

NYAYA SCHOOL(GAUTAM)

1) The term ‘Nyaya’ means “justice”, “rules”, “method” or “judgment”

2) Sage Gautama is the founder of this school with his Nyaya-sutra,

3) It approaches philosophical questions in a scientific and rational approach.

4) According to Nyaya, there were four valid sources of knowledge — perception, inference, comparison, and testimony

5) Concept of God: God is the ultimate cause of the world's creation, maintenance and destruction.

VAISHESHIKA SCOOL(KANADA)

1) It postulated that all objects in the physical universe are reducible to paramāṇu(atoms), and one’s experiences are derived from the interplay of substance, quality, activity, commonness, particularity and inherence.

2) Views on God: The Vaisesika theory is substantially similar to the Nyaya's.

3) According to the Vaisheshika school, the laws of Karma guide this universe.

4) They contended that the Universe was created by the five main elements known as Dravya (fire, air, water, earth, and sky).

5) The Vaisesika system is considered conducive to studying all systems.

PURVA MIMAMSA(JAMINI)

1) It was propounded by Sage Jaimini

2) It places emphasis on the power of yajnas and mantras in sustaining the activities of the universe.

3) This school of thought believes in complete authority of Vedas.

4) This school of thought states that a human being can attain salvation only by acting in conformity with the principles of Vedas.

VEDANTA OR UTTAR MIMAMSA(VYASA)

1) It is also referred to as Uttara Mimamsa.

2) The influence of Upanishads on this school of thought is predominant.

3) It is a monistic school of philosophy that believes world is unreal and the only reality is Brahman.

4) The text Brahmasutra of Badrayana formed the basis of this philosophy.

Thus, Vedanta is also referred to as Vedanta Mimamsa (“Reflection on Vedanta”), Uttara Mimamsa (“Reflection on the Latter Part of the Vedas”), and Brahma Mimamsa (“Reflection on Brahman”).

5) The three fundamental Vedanta texts are Upanishads, Bhagavadgita and Brahma-sutras.

Under Heterodox there are several school of philosophies are existed.

Ex- Charvaka, Buddhist, Jain, Ajivika, Ajnana etc.

CHARVAKA(BRIHASPATI)

Core Philosophy: Direct perception is the only means of establishing and accepting the truth.

1) According to Charvakas, perception (Pratyaksa) is the only source of valid knowledge, and they hold that nothing exists except what the five senses perceive.

• For them, perception is of two kinds: external (the kind involving the operation of the five senses) and internal (involves 4 the operation of the mind).

2) The Charvaka denied the soul or Atman as a surviving or transmitting entity.

3) Charvakas did not believe in the theory of karma; accordingly, they rejected the notion of rebirth after death.

View on God: They did not believe in any metaphysical reality beyond matter.

AJIVIKA(GOSHALA)

Core Philosophy: There is no reason or cause for the depravity of things; they deprave without reason or cause. There is also no cause for the purity of beings; they become pure without reason or cause.

Ajivikas believed that every being had a soul (Atman).

The sect is as seen as professing total determinism in the transmigration of souls, or series of rebirths.

The Ajivikas supposedly held that the affairs of the entire universe were ordered by a cosmic force called niyati that determined all events.

Ajivikas also believe that all change was illusory and that everything was eternally immobile.

BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY

Buddhism combines both philosophical reasoning and the practice of meditation. The Buddhist religion presents a multitude of Buddhist paths to liberation

Teachings associated with Buddhism

To avoid extremes of life, whether it is addiction to worldly pleasures or a life of painful asceticism and self-mortification.

Buddha emphasized on moral progress which was independent of any creator of the universe

The essence of Buddhism lies in the realization that life is transient

Buddha seems to have accepted the idea of transmigration

The Buddha defined his teaching as the middle way, In the Dharmachakrapravartana sutra this is used to refer to the fact that his teachings steer a middle course between the extremes of asceticism and bodily deniel.

Jain philosophy

It mainly aims at the attainment of liberation, for which no ritual is required. It can be attained through three principles called Three Jewels or Triratna, i.e. Right Faith (Samyakdarshana) Right Knowledge (Samyakjnana) Right Action (Samyakcharita)

Jainism believes that the universe and all its substances or entities are eternal. It has no beginning or end with respect to time. Universe runs on its own accord by its own cosmic laws.

All the substances change or modify their forms continuously. Nothing can be destroyed or created in the universe.