Unit 5: Sankhya and Yoga
Table of Contents
1. Sankhya Metaphysics
Sankhya (founded by Kapila) is a strongly Dualistic school. It identifies two ultimate, independent realities whose interaction creates the world.
- Purusha (Self/Consciousness): It is pure, eternal, and inactive consciousness. It is the "subject" or "witness" (Sakshi). There are infinite Purushas, one for each living being.
- Prakriti (Matter/Nature): It is the unconscious, active, and material cause of the world. It is the "object" of experience.
Bondage occurs when Purusha mistakenly identifies itself with Prakriti. Liberation (Kaivalya) happens when Purusha realizes its complete distinction from matter.
2. The Three Gunas
Prakriti is composed of three constituent forces or "qualities" known as Gunas. In the state of equilibrium, Prakriti is unmanifest; when the balance is disturbed, evolution begins.
| Guna | Nature | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Sattva | Lightness / Brightness | Pleasure, knowledge, peace, and clarity. |
| Rajas | Activity / Motion | Pain, passion, restlessness, and drive. |
| Tamas | Inertia / Darkness | Ignorance, laziness, confusion, and heaviness. |
3. Theory of Evolution (Sarga)
Evolution starts when Purusha comes near Prakriti (analogy: the proximity of a magnet and iron). Prakriti then evolves into 23 different elements, including Mahat (Intellect), Ahankara (Ego), the Manas (Mind), and the physical elements.
4. Yoga: The Eightfold Path
Yoga (founded by Patanjali) accepts the metaphysics of Sankhya but adds the concept of God (Ishvara) as the perfect teacher. Yoga defines itself as "Chitta-vritti-nirodha"—the cessation of the modifications of the mind.
The Ashtanga Yoga (Eight Limbs):
To achieve liberation, one must follow these eight steps:
- Yama: Moral restraints (Ahimsa, Truth, etc.).
- Niyama: Self-discipline (Purity, Contentment, etc.).
- Asana: Physical postures.
- Pranayama: Breath control.
- Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the senses from objects.
- Dharana: Concentration on a single object.
- Dhyana: Uninterrupted meditation.
- Samadhi: Total absorption or union with the self.
Exam Focus: Tips & FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Sankhya called 'Dualistic'?
A: Because it insists that Mind (Purusha) and Matter (Prakriti) are two fundamentally different substances that can never be reduced to one another.
Q: What is the role of God in Yoga?
A: Unlike Nyaya, where God is a creator, in Yoga, God is a "Special Purusha" who serves as an ideal for meditation and helps the seeker remove obstacles on the path.
Exam Tip
When writing about the Evolution of Sankhya, use the term "Satkaryavada." This is their theory of causation which states that the effect already exists in a latent form in its cause (like oil in seeds).