One of the earliest philosophies...

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

There is a system of philosophy as part of Hinduism called the Samkhya. This system probably has its origins in the Indus Valley period (pre-vedic) around 2000 BCE.

The individual consciousness called the Purusha, is believe to get bonded or trapped in Prakriti or Nature.   Nature has its own set of Laws and rules that cannot be changed by Consciousness.  Prakriti gives rise to Intellect (Mahat).....Ahankara (Ego)...Manas (Mind)... and the senses and action related functions. 

The Purusha wrongly identifies itself with the Ego and the material world.

As the spirit (Purusha) evolves and develops, it moves upward from the Ego to the Intellect and realizes its true nature as the imperishable one, different from the body and the Ego.  This leads to liberation.

Some schools of Samkhya are atheistic in the sense that they don't talk of a God or a creator. But some schools do accept a creator beyond the individual soul.

Samkhya is seen as a twin or as the theory behind the Yoga philosophy that emphasizes the practice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samkhya

For information.

Sriram

PS: I have posted it in the Philosophy section because it is it is not about Hindu religion. Eastern philosophy has remained too long as an 'alien' subject segregated as 'Eastern', rather than as a part of world philosophy.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Hi everyone,

There is a system of philosophy as part of Hinduism called the Samkhya. This system probably has its origins in the Indus Valley period (pre-vedic) around 2000 BCE.

The individual consciousness called the Purusha, is believe to get bonded or trapped in Prakriti or Nature.   Nature has its own set of Laws and rules that cannot be changed by Consciousness.  Prakriti gives rise to Intellect (Mahat).....Ahankara (Ego)...Manas (Mind)... and the senses and action related functions. 

The Purusha wrongly identifies itself with the Ego and the material world.

As the spirit (Purusha) evolves and develops, it moves upward from the Ego to the Intellect and realizes its true nature as the imperishable one, different from the body and the Ego.  This leads to liberation.

Some schools of Samkhya are atheistic in the sense that they don't talk of a God or a creator. But some schools do accept a creator beyond the individual soul.

Samkhya is seen as a twin or as the theory behind the Yoga philosophy that emphasizes the practice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samkhya

For information.

Sriram

PS: I have posted it in the Philosophy section because it is it is not about Hindu religion. Eastern philosophy has remained too long as an 'alien' subject segregated as 'Eastern', rather than as a part of world philosophy.

Hi Sriram I hope you are well. I have given the information possibly less of a glance but it certainly seems that the themes within this philosophy are more practical to people than the grander themes of western cosmic and economic philosophies.

Definitely worth informing people of ways of thinking although I can already see where it’s opposition lies namely those who would use the fallacy of modernity, the so called illusion of consciousness and the stultifying use of neuroscience as a bludgeon and a retreat for scientism.

I would definitely endorse the recommendation that this stuff shows the kind of themes we should make time to think about.

[Sriram]

Hi Vlad...

Yes, the philosophy is very practical and in line with current understanding ...except for the bit about the Purusha being independent of the Prakriti. 

But we do have many contemporary philosophers and even scientists, who believe that consciousness is independent of the body.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Sriram,

Hi Vlad...

Yes, the philosophy is very practical and in line with current understanding ...except for the bit about the Purusha being independent of the Prakriti.

But we do have many contemporary philosophers and even scientists, who believe that consciousness is independent of the body.

Do we? Who?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Hi Vlad...

Yes, the philosophy is very practical and in line with current understanding ...except for the bit about the Purusha being independent of the Prakriti. 

But we do have many contemporary philosophers and even scientists, who believe that consciousness is independent of the body.

I think there are western scientists who would say there is a distinction between consciousness and the electrochemical reactions of the brain although emergence could still subtle be a form of materialism. Reductionists and those who weirdly see the whole of physicalism as a righteous act of destruction against non physicalists are going to favour materialist explanations.

I think reality is dualist and there is Christian physicist and theologian called John Polkinghorne who finds that a more subtle approach can unify some of the properties of the spiritual and the material, to the point where he can refer to himself as a type of materialist although I'm not sure if he includes God in it.