Samayasara OR Nature of Self

SR No.: 011119
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A Chakravarti
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith
Publication Year: 1950
Total Pages: 406
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 38 MB

Page 91

хс
SAMAYASARA
and developing Prakriti the several Purushas are situated. According to Kapıla the Purushas are infinite in number. Thus in the technical language of modern metaphysics the Sankhya system may be said to be the dualistic as well as pluralistic. Dualistic because it postulates two classes of reals Chetana and Achetana, spiritual and non-spiritual and pluralistic because it postulates an infinite number of Purushas or souls Each Purusha is cncircled by Prakriti or Pradhana which is another name for describing matter In the earlier form of the Sankhya system each Purusha was supposed to have his own peculiar and individual Prakriti. But later schools of Sankhya maintained that all the different Pradhanas relating to different Purushas are really one in nature since they are all evolved from one and the same Praktiti, The Purusha who is encrcled by an alien and extraneous matter forgets its true nature and pristine purity, identifies itself with bodily activities and conditions. This ignorance of its true heritage is the real cause of human misery. Hence the realisation of the true nature of the Purusha as distinct from the material conditions is the ideal to be aimed at.
Evolution of the cosmos from the Primeval Prakritz-This Prakriti is uncreated and self-existing It is from this Prakriti all other things emanate except the Purusha. This primeval matter or Prakriti is endowed with three gunas or qualities. Whenever the harmonious equilibrium of the quality in the Prakriti is disturbed it begins on the career of manifestation or differentiation. This process of differentiation really constitutes the process of the building up of the Cosmos. The first thing that emanates from this unmanifested Prakriti is Buddhi of Mahatthe Great. The term Buddhi is sometimes translated as intellect but we should remember this fact that it is mainly of the nature of matter since it evolves from achetana reality-Prakriti. Intellect in modern psychology suggests a relation to a mind or self but Prakriti in Kapila's system corresponds to Descarte's unthinking thing. Therefore Buddhi which is evolved from this Prakriti subtle though it be is still a material mode. This Buddhi or Mahat must therefore mean in the Sankhya system some sort of subtle material environment quite in the proximity of the Puru