Sankhya

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses Sankhya, a version of Hindu philosophy. The paper explains in detail its origins, theologies, traditions, perceptions and beliefs. The paper notes that while, Sankhya has a similar foundation to other Hindu philosophies, in that the attainment of enlightenment is the eventual goal, Sankhya seeks to do this without the aid of theology and religion, relying instead on logic and reason to end suffering in the world.

From the Paper:

"To understand perception in the philosophy of Sankhya, one must first understand the relationship between senses and cognition. In Sankhya, the object of cognition is observed through one of three faculties, those of the mind, the intellect, and the ego. The mind is responsible for constructing mental representations of the world around an individual with data supplied by the senses themselves. On the other hand, the ego adds personal experiences, and relates them to information gained from the mind. The intellect is the understanding of both knowledge and personal experiences."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Allen, Douglas. Culture and Self: Philosophical and Religious Perspectives, East and West. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1997.
• Bhagavad-Gita. Johnson, W.J., Trans. Oxford: Oxford University, 1994.
• Chekki, Danesh A. Religion and Social System of the Virasaiva Community. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1997.
• Isayeva, Natalia. Shankara and Indian Philosophy. Albany, NY: University of New York Press, 1993.
• Larson, Gerald James. Classical Samkhya. An Interpretation of its History and Meaning. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1979.

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