Classical Samkhya and Yoga: An Indian

Samkhya and Yoga are two of the oldest and most influential systems of classical Indian philosophy. This book provides a thorough analysis of the systems in order to fully understand Indian philosophy. Placing particular emphasis on the metaphysical schema which underlies both concepts, the author aptly develops a new interpretation of the standard views on Samkhya and Yoga. Drawing upon existing sources and using insights from both eastern and western philosophy and religious practice, this comprehensive interpretation is respectful to the underlying spiritual purpose of the Indian systems. It serves to illuminate the relation between the theoretical and practical dimensions of Samkhya and Yoga. The book fills a gap in current scholarship. It will be of interest to those concerned with Indology as well as philosophies in general and their similarities and differences with other traditions.

Mikel Burley teaches in the School of Philosophy at the University of Leeds.

Series editor's preface

vii

Preface

ix

Note on the use of italics and underlining

xiii

List of abbreviations

xiv

Introduction

1

What are classical Samkhya and Yoga?

1

The interpretation of Samkhya and Yoga given in this study

5

Methodological considerations

7

1. An historical overview of Samkhya and Yoga

15

Early sources

15

The classical Samkhya and Yoga texts and their commentaries

22

Post-classical developments

31

2. The relation between the two darsanas

36

The historical relation

37

Methodologies

43

Metaphysical framework

48

3. Analysing experience: Kantian and phenomenological philosophy

56

Kant and the problem of metaphysics

57

Recapitulation and some criticisms of the Kantian view

61

Phenomenology and descriptive psychology

64

From phenomenological reduction to metaphysical idealism

68

The relevance of Kantian and phenomenological thought

69

4. The imputation of realism

72

The standard interpretation of Samkhya and Yoga (and some of its shortcomings)

73

Yoga's alleged refutation of Buddhist idealism

82

5. The nature of prakrti

91

Creation, manifestation and causality

92

Prakrti and materiality

97

The three 'strands' of prakrti

101

6. The emergence of the manifest principles

108

Cosmos and psyche

109

'Vertical' and 'horizontal' ontologies

110

The order of emergence

111

The analysis of experience

124

The soteriological relevance of the metaphysical schema

129

Summary

132

7. Freedom from experience

133

The central interpretive problem of kaivalya

134

Ian Whicher's view of kaivalya as 'embodied liberation'

138

Aloneness and misperception

141

Purusa and multiplicity

147

Consciousness without content

150

8. Conclusion

156

Appendix A

163

The text of the Samkhyakarika

163

The Samkhyakarika in Devanagari and Roman script, and in English translation

164

Appendix B

180

Diagrammatic representation of classical Samkhya's metaphysical schema

180

Glossary of key Sanskrit terms

181

Notes

187

Bibliography

205

Index

218

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Classical Samkhya and Yoga: An Indian Metaphysics of Experience

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials