The article ponders over the most debatable aspects of Sāṃkhya philosophy. One such issue is whether consciousness can be one of the causes of evolution or not. It resolves with the affirmation that it may be the instrumental cause in the limited sense that its proximity or contact only issues forth the evolution. The second issue is about the nature of that consciousness, which takes part in evolution. Upon this, it is assumed that it is the transcendental consciousness and not the individual one that is the instrumental cause of cosmic evolution. This discourse further focuses on the methodological aspects of the study of Sāṃkhya. In this connection, it distinguishes between different approaches, namely, the Yogic Experiential Approach, Truth-Oriented Approach or Seekers’ Approach, Traditional Approach, Textual Approach, Piecemeal Approach and Holistic Approach.

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Consciousness and Causation in Sāṃkhya

  • Saroj Kanta Kar

摘要

The article ponders over the most debatable aspects of Sāṃkhya philosophy. One such issue is whether consciousness can be one of the causes of evolution or not. It resolves with the affirmation that it may be the instrumental cause in the limited sense that its proximity or contact only issues forth the evolution. The second issue is about the nature of that consciousness, which takes part in evolution. Upon this, it is assumed that it is the transcendental consciousness and not the individual one that is the instrumental cause of cosmic evolution. This discourse further focuses on the methodological aspects of the study of Sāṃkhya. In this connection, it distinguishes between different approaches, namely, the Yogic Experiential Approach, Truth-Oriented Approach or Seekers’ Approach, Traditional Approach, Textual Approach, Piecemeal Approach and Holistic Approach.