Indian philosophical
systems- Development and unique features
Questions (of existential nature) that inspire philosophical requirement
- Why should one not commit theft? Is it because of the scriptural or saintly or God's injunctions? Why should God give injunctions/ commands? What is the nature of God?
- What is the root cause behind our constant pursuit of happiness, which seems to be the fundamental instinct of all living beings? Who am I? What is my nature?
- What is the nature of the universe? Are there any universal laws that allow for perpetual happiness?
In trying to find the answers to these questions, great personalities arrived at holistic
view of world
A Holistic view of world is called DARSANA. View is indicated by the root 'drs' in Darsana. The different 'darsanas' or Schools of philosophy have enriched Indian thinking and formed the basis for all aspects of life including worship, rituals, art, etc
Three subjects of darsanas
- Jiva- Individual living entity whose happiness or distress is the source of enquiry
- Jagat- The universe which provides the context or field
- Isvara- Universal force or Divinity or God who/ which seems to coordinate the Universe
Unique aspects of Indian philosophical thoughts
- Philosophy → Spirituality → Religion → Way of living
- Vedic schools of philosophy (six darsanas) and Non-vedic schools (Jaina, Buddhist, Caarvaka)
- All indian schools have some common concepts (karma, samsara, mukthi)
- Ultimate goal of life and the path to reach that is specifically mentioned in all schools of Indian..
- Different schools differ in their epistemological tools (the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope, and the distinction between belief and opinion)
- Healthy culture of respectful and peaceful coexistence, inspite of differences in philosophies
- Every aspect of philosophy is subjected to debate.One of the schools give a framework of debates
Vedic Schools of Philosophy
Six Vedic Schools and their salient aspects
- According to Samkhya system, two basic elements constitute everything in this world, i.e matter (Prakrti) and spirit (Purusa). Purusa is the pure consciousness, sentient, changeless, eternal, and passive. Prakriti is the root cause of all activity including the entire creation
- Yoga emphasises on the understanding of mind, its various states, its cognitive activities, and methods to control it. Yoga provides a structured and practical eight step process to gradually reach a stage of complete cessation of the activites of Chitta.
- The Nyaya system emphasises on the means of obtaining the right knowledge. Therefore the unique contribution of Nyaya school is its detailed inquiry of knowledge (prama) and valid cognition and its means (Pramana)
- Vaisesika system deals with the Objects in the reality that is knowable
- The main aim of Purva mimamsa school is to ascertain the meanings of the Samhita and Brahmana portions of veda which lay importance on the karma, performing rituals, and thereby attaining Dharma as a means of liberation
- Vedanta schools of philosophy rely on three major texts: Brahma Sutras, Bhagavad-Gita and Upanisads, known as Prasthana-traya, for establishing their tenets.
- Sankaracharya propounded a monistic philosophy, known as advaita, with the conception of the attribute-less God (Nirguna-brahman) as the ultimate reality
- Visistadvaita philosophy of Ramanujacarya, recognises three entities- Matter, Jiva and Isvara
- The dvaita School clearly admits three independent and mutually irreducible substances that make up the universe: The Jivam Jagat and the Isvara.
Non-vedic schools of philosophy
- Jain school of thought is in line with the vedic schools of philosophy. With syad-vada, Jain philosophers are able to analyse claims made by various systems of thought and show them to be relative assertions of the truth as understood by Jain tradition
- Buddha's philosophy focusses on the means of ending the suffering of the individuals. It is based on the four Noble truths. The ultimate goal in Buddhist philosophy is to reach Nirvana. Nirvana is not the state reached after death, but something that is attainable in this very life
- Carvaka school of thought closely maps to the trait of materialism, which emphasises a life of enjoyment based on certain principles and assumptions about life. The concept of rebirth and other world is completely dismissed in this system.
