THE 6 HINDU SYSTEMS AND SANKHYA.

There are 6 systems of Hindu philosophy some of which even predates the Upanishads. Their thought and the Upansihadic thought have mutually influenced each other. They are

1.     Sankhya

2.     Yoga

3.     Vaiseshika

4.     Nyaya

5.     Poorva Mimamsa

6.     Uttara Mimamsa also known as Vedanta or Advaita.

Let us have a brief look at what they say.

Tradition regards Kapila as the founder of this system. This is very ancient and perhaps even predates Vedas themselves. The book Sankhya Karika of 5^th century AD is the earliest available work on this system. Sankhya recognizes 2 entities, Purusha and Prakriti. Sankhya means number as well as right knowledge.

Right knowledge is the separation of the Purusha from the Prakriti.

Yoga means action or practice and tells us how the theoretical teachings of Sankhya may be realized an actual practice.

Thus Sankhya-Yoga forms a complete system. While Sankhya supplies the philosophy Yoga supplies the means to reach it.  

Sankhya is an intellectual system and it maintains a clear cut dualism between Purusha and Prakriti and further maintains the plurality of the Purushas and is silent on God.

All material effects are the modifications of Prakriti. They pre exist within it and come out of it at the time of creation and return to it at the time of dissolution.

Purusha by itself is pure and transcendental consciousness. It is the ultimate knower and is the foundation of all knowledge. It is the pure subject and it can never become the object of knowledge. It is uncaused eternal and all pervading.  

The selves are all alike, only numerically they are different. 

PRAKRITI is the enjoyed and PURUSHA is the enjoyer. Purusha needs Prakriti for enjoyment as well as for liberation. For samsara as well as kaivalya.

Purusha is above bondage and liberation, merit and demerit. It mistakes itself with the ego and the mind and feels it is bound. When Purusha realizes its own pure nature it gets liberated. Good and bad actions may lead to Heaven and Hell but it is only knowledge that leads to liberation. In Sankhya liberation there is neither pain nor pleasure.  

Bondage of the Purusha is fiction. It is Prakriti that is bound and Prakriti that is liberated.

Sankhya does not talk about God because as per it Parkriti and Purushas are sufficient to explain away the Universe.