(Indian Philosophy)

Hindu Philosophy

Major sources of it are Upnishads, Later Vedic Period, developing and evolving over 2000 years. There are two types of Schools first is Orthodox (astika) or non-orthodox (nastika), if Veda is an infallible source of knowledge or not.

Six orthodox schools: Nyaya, Veisesika, Samkhya, Yoga, Purva mimansa and Vedanta (also called as Uttar mimansa). The Heterodox are Jain, Buddhist and materialist (Cārvāka). Then various schools have perished, but some have survived are: Jainism,Buddhism, Shavia and Advaita (part of Vedanta only), while Samkhya and Ajivika did not survided. "Philosopher" is dārśanika, familiar with the systems of philosophyor darśanas. 

Common Points:

• Philosophy as practical necessity to lead the best life possible.
• How will study to serve human ends (purushartha).
• Application of analysis, logic and rationalism to metaphysical problems and inquiring about the nature of reality, the structure and function of the human psyche and how to utilise this knowledge to achieve human salvation (moksha).
• The natural law (Dharma) concept codified as to how life in earth should be lived. the sages urged humans to follow this order and to live their lives accordingly.

So these were the common points of all these schools.

1. Smkhya (Enumeration school)

Founded by Sage Kapila and  it was Strongly dualist (dualism): Universe consist of two realities; Purusa (consciousness) and prakriti (phenomenal realm of matter). Jiva is that state in which purusa is bounded to prakriti via desire, and the ends of this bondage is moksha. Samkya denies the final cause of Ishvara (they do not believe that there is God or not). There is no description of after moksha state nor of God or Ishwara.

2. Nyaya (School of logic, Nyaya Sutras)

It is founded by Aksapada Gautama. Methodology to prove existence of God, based on the Vedas, System of logic adopted by other schools as well. They believe in Obtaining credibility knowledge, only way to obtain release from suffering. Identifying the valid source of knowledge and to distinguish them from mere false opinions. Nyaya: both epistemology (nature, scope, theory of knowledge), in addition to logic.

Four sources of knowledge (pramānas): perception, inference, comparison, and testimony. Valid or invalid knowledge still possible and a number of explanatory schemes have been developed by them to reach this valid or credible knowledge. So, Nyaya is probably the closest Indian equivalent to contemporary analytic philosophy of west.

3. Vaisheshika

Sage Kanāda developed it. It closely associated with Nyaya school, the school of logic and eventually these fused together. It deals with atomism: All objects in the physical universe are reducible to a finite number of atoms.

Difference: Nyaya (Four source of valid knowledge), Vaishesika (only i.e. perception and inference).

4. Mimansa (Purva Mimansa)

The sole purpose of enquiry into nature of dharma based on hermeneutics (interpretation) of the Vedas. It is not accessible via reason, observation, must be inferred from authority of revelation in Vedas, which are considered eternal, authorless and infallible.

Both atheistic and theistic doctrines are available. Not really interested in existence of God but rather in the character of dharma. Dharma has nothing to do with religion, it is actually code of conduct to lead a dignified life. The core tenets of Purva Mimansa are ritualism, anti-asceticism and anti-mysticism. Elucidation of the nature of dharma is the major aim of this school.

5. Vedanta (Uttar Mimansa)

 It is somewhat opposite to Purva Mimansa. Vedanta (conclusion of the Vedas): Most prominent and philosophically advanced of the orthodox schools. It includes philosophical traditions concerned with interpreting the three basic texts of Hinduist philosophy, namely the Upnishads, the Brahma Sutras and the Bhagwat Gita. These are the three which Vedanta deals with, now there are 10 branches of Vedanta but three you must remember are Advaita Vedanta, Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita.

Vedanta (Uttar mimansa) latter/higher enquiry and Mimansa (Purva Mimansa), the 'Former enquiry'. Purva mimansa explains fire-sacrifices of the Vedic mantras in the Samhita portion of the Vedas and Brahmanas, while Vedanta throws light on the esoteric teachings of Aranyakas (the 'forest scriptures'), and the Upnishads.

Important names in Hindu philosophies: Shankara, Ramahuja and Madhvacharya.

6. Yoga

The first mention comes in Buddhist Nikaya and it is developed by Patanjali. Yoga are the physical, mental and spiritual practices or disciplines transforming and transcending body and mind. Yoga is popular in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Yoga described humans as existing of three bodies and five sheets which cover the atmman, and energy flowing through energy channels and concentrated in chakras.

Hatha Yoga: It is popularised by Swami Vivekanand in West, as system of physical exercise.
Raja Yoga: Classical yoga and Astanga yoga is a form of meditation enrich the mind is trained to be focused at one point. It aims at the calming of the mind using a succession of steps, culmination in samadhi.