The Most Scientific Philosophy Explained:- Samkhya Philosophy

Sanatan Dharma is very wide and it accepts many of  philosophical ideas. And that’s why various philosophies developed. And the reason I like Indian philosophies is that they are more deeper than Western philosophy. I am not saying that Indian philosophy  only greatest philosophy, but it is more deeper than Western philosophy. Even TS Eliot, a noble award winning novelist admires the fact that our philosophies are more deeper and that is the reason why great Quantum Physicists like  Schrodinger have shown interest in Indian philosophies.

 

Many people have a grasp of Western philosophy, but often struggle to apply its principles due to their complexity. In contrast, Vedic philosophy places a strong emphasis on practical applicability, recognizing that a philosophy holds little value if it cannot be implemented in one's life. According to Vedic philosophy, knowing the truth is not sufficient; one must also actively follow it. Unlike Western philosophy, which tends to concentrate on external truths, Indian philosophy, particularly Vedic philosophy, underscores the importance of understanding both the external and internal realities. As it is said that “If you know yourselfvor Atman, you know the whole world”. Even today, we observe quantum physicists engaging in a similar approach. Einstein, for instance, never conducted experiments in a laboratory, yet he predicted the existence of black holes before their discovery through his Einstein field equations. Presently, we've extrapolated predictions about the existence of white holes and wormholes based on Einstein's field equations, although we haven't yet confirmed these phenomena. Einstein, through the application of rationalism and scientific methodology, formulated a comprehensive theory that has proven to be accurate.

 

It's important to note that when I highlight the scientific nature of Indian philosophy, I'm not suggesting that it should replace science

 

 

So when we refer to Indian philosophies, Indian philosophies get divided into 2 parts. One is the theistic(astika) philosophies and others are atheistic(naastik) philosophies.  In Vedic terms atheist does not mean the one who does not believe in God. One who does not believe in the words of Vedas is an atheist. So on the basis of this, the theistic or aastika s philosophies are

1)Samkhya Philosophy

2)Vaishaieka Philosophy

3)Nyaya Philosophy

4)Yoga Philosophy

5)Mimansa Philosphy

6)Vedanta Philosophy

Many other sub philosophies come under these major philosophies. These all the  philosophies were derived from the Vedas. Then there comes atheistic philosophies, which means that they did not develop from the Vedas, which are

1)Charvak philosophy

2) Buddhist philosophy

3) Jain philosophy

 These philosophies are not directly taken from the Vedas but if we see their aim, their aim is same as that of the Vedas, just their methods are different. I have written a blog on this topic. You can clickhere to read that.

 

 

Now a question might arise. That by reading the same Vedas why we created many philosophies. Answer to this question is that various munis understood Vedas differently. They gave a different interpretation by studying the Vedas and so developed many philosophies. But the ultimate aim is same. Just methods are different, so we should never fight on this topic that this philosophy is great and this philosophy is great. Every philosophy will lead you to the same, just ways are different.

 

So today we are going to study Sankhya philosophy. And this is the most scientific theory of creation of universe. We will discuss about that and also if you have any doubts regarding Sankhya philosophy you can ask to me in comment section. I am telling just a brief about Sankhya philosophy. I am not delving into the very details because those details are not required if you do not wish to study them. If you just want to gain a general knowledge then this blog is for you. Otherwise you can read “Samkhyakarika” for detailed knowledge.

 

 Now this Sankhya philosophy is different from the Sankhya Yoga. Sankhya Yog is given by Lord Sri Krishna in the chapter 2 of Bhagwad Gita. This yoga was given by Kapil Muni who was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the Samkhya philosophy was given by Kapil. Muni who was not an incarnation of Vishnu. Both are different

 

 

Let’s start with the history of Sankhya philosophy was propounded by Kapil Muni as I previously told. And he also wrote a book on it but unfortunately that book is today lost and we do not get the that book but in his disciplic lineage we get a Saint who wrote SamkhyaKarika in which he gave the summary of Samkhya philosophy. Now it’s just the summary, but it contains very deep knowledge.

 

So before coming to the direct topic, let’s study about TATVA.  So tatva in Indian philosophies is same just as the “theory of everything” in  physics. Theory of everything  in physics  is a law which can explain all other laws of quantum physics, of gravitation, of motion etc.one law which explain all. It is called the Theory of everything. In the same way tatwa in Indian philosophy is the factor by which we can know this universe..

 

 

So there are 3 Tattvas in Indian philosophies which are

1)Ishwara or God

2) Atman or Self

 3)Jagat or World

 Now some of these philosophies say that God, Aatman and Jagat are same and they are not different Like Advait Vedanta. Some say that we believe in Atma and Jagat but we do not believe in God . All the Indian philosophies are based on these 3 Tattvas.

 

 

Now Sankhya philosophy is a theoretical philosophy. By knowing this philosophy you will come to know that why you came to in this world and how was universe created in terms of Samkhya philosophy. But in order to go back  or in order. To achieve Moksha  in general term is not possible by just studying the theoretical philosophy. So for applying this philosophy, we have the Yoga philosophy which was given by Sage Patanjali.

 

 

Samkhya  philosophy focuses on the 2 tattvas, that is Jagat and Atman. If you do not know much about Atman then I have explained it in my blog. You can click here to read that. Samakhya does not talk much on the Ishwara or God. It is an agnostic philosophy. It says that even if there is God Then also its OK and even if there is not God then also it’s OK.

 

 

Jagat is further divided into 24 elements and Atman is called Purusha in this philosophy. Now you don’t have to learn it that there arte 24 elemnts. You have to ask WHY?. The major question you have to ask in philosophy is “why?” You don’t just have to believe it because I am telling or someone else is telling. You have to question why. Philosophy becomes an orthodox religion when you don’t question and you simply follow, we don’t have to become superstitious, we have to become logical and rationalist. And for that we have to question “Why”. Then only we can become pure devotees of God.

 

So I have given a diagram here which tells. About The elements of Jagat   . Now Jagat comes from Mul Prakriti. Mul Prakriti means before creation what was there or from what creation came.

 

See, science is based on experiments and results, but philosophy is based on proofs or evidences. Now Sankhya follows Shashwat Praman and Karkyakara siddha  Pramana Paman means proof. So as per Shashwat Praman or proof Kapil Muni noticed that. “I can see the world. But I cannot know by seeing this world How did this emerge from?” So there he applied the Karyekar Siddha(cause effect proof) . and applies “Satkarvad” Satkarvad means what is in existence has come from some existence. Everything has come from something. From nothing something cannot come. For example. If you are existing, you are existing because of your parents. If your parents weren’t there, you would not exist. So this is a Satkaarvad . So now in the same way. A tree comes from a seed And the seed contains the properties or qualities of the tree.So as per cause effect tree is the effect and seed is the cause. You are effect and your parents are cause.  The universe will also come from the thing which is similar to  Universe just as a mango seed has properties of or qualities of mango tree. So from the thing from which from which universe came Kapil Muni Called it Mul Prakriti. Now Mul Prakriti must also have the qualities which the universe has, So Kapil Muni started observing the universe. And he comes to know about 3 qualities which are common to all living and non living things in this universe. These qualities known as Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. You can Google to know about them more. In brief, I can tell you that Satva is something which are very good, peaceful, positive, knowledgeable. Rajas is something which are very fast or something like speed and Tamas  are the things which are very negative or  lazy . I am not explaining this in detail, you can Google it if you want to know more about these 3 gunas. So he noticed that everything in this universe has these 3 gunas. Even we have these 3 gunas in us  and anyone of these 3 gunas is prominent in us. For example, you are very spiritual person, you hear saintly discourses, you worship God and such other things. So you must be in saatva Guna whereas any other person who sleeps all day long uses abusive language he must be in Tamas. So if the universe has these 3 gunas, so the Mul Prakriti must also have these 3 gunas as per cause effect just as you look similar to your parents.

 

 But in Mul Prakriti, these gunas were in equilibrium, so things did not change. But when the universe was created that means there was an imbalance in Gunas as per Sankhya philosophy. Imbalance because Purusha now was attracted by Prakriti and then it formed various things(Attracted is wrong word but due to limitations of English language i used it)

Now if you know physics, then you must know that in physics according to Big Bang Theory The negligible particle or mass  exploded due to quantum fluctuation in it  which is very similar to the imbalance of Gunas which is being explained here in Sankhya philosophy. Now world also did not come to form in one second as per Big Bang theory. In the same way world was not created in one second. It slowly came into its present state. And so came Mahat. Mahat, you can say, is cosmic intelligence you must have heard  Brahma created the world. So Brahma here is the Mool Prakriti and The Saraswati is the Mahat or the intelligence which is guiding the universe What to do. 

And when intelligence comes in purusha , then comes Ahamkaar(pride). 

 

 

 If the world is created and there must be someone to enjoy the world, otherwise what is the point of having a world if there is no one to enjoy it. So Samkhya philosophy concludes that there must be someone to enjoy the world, and that is Purush or Atman. Jagat or Mul Prakrit is one but purush are many. The Vedanta philosophy does not say that Atman are many. They say that there is one   Aatma.

 

  But Samkhya philosophy says that If you are sleeping, you are experiencing sleep.  But someone else who is waking is not experiencing sleep.  Or in broader terms, if someone died.  you are still alive, so  we cannot be one. Because everyone experiences differently. So Purush must be many.

 

Coming back to the 24 elements of Jagat. When the Purush aquires Ahamkar then it forms 5 Gyanendriyan and  5 Karmendriya(senses). One Mind. 5 TanMatras which form 5 Mahabhoot( 5 elements of which we are made up.

 

Now Samkhya Yoga has told you how you came into this world, and now yoga philosophy tells you how to go back from this world. And in order to go back from the world, you have to go back in the cycle you came in from this body to purush. And once you go back in this cycle You attain Kaivalya or  in  general terms  “Moksha”.