Aptamimansa

Author(s): Vijay K Jain
Publisher: Vikalp Printers

Page 96

Aptamīmāmsā
The main tenets of the Sāmkhya system are:
1. Dualism of (a) entirely inactive Spirit (Puruşa) or Intelligence (Cit) and (b) a material, non-intelligent nature (Prakrti) of triple constitution, from which emerges, and into which is dissolved, the entire universe of things experienced. 2. An evolution of Prakyti in the presence of Spirit by stages of which the first is an instrument of determinate awareness (Buddhi, Reason), and the second a simultaneous origination of Egoity (Ahamkāra, principle of individuality) and of Sense-faculties. Thence come the essences of the Five Elements and through their composition the gross material elements and the general physical universe. 3. An unreal connection of Spirit and Prakrti and its evolutes in consequence of a failure on the part of Spirit to realize his actual detachment and of a false semblance of intelligence in the mechanism of Praksti through reflection from the light of Spirit. 4. Liberation of Spirit from the unreal connection and bondage when, having seen the work of Prakrti through and through, he realizes his own absolute aloofness.1
The Reals (tattvas) are 25 as follows: the unmanifested (avyakta, Prakyti in its unevolved quiescence); and the manifested (vyakta) – 24-fold by reason of the distinction of the ‘great principle' (Mahat, Buddhi), ego (Ahamkāra), the 5 pure principles (sabda, sparsa, rūpa, rasa, gandha), the 11 senseorgans including mind, the 5 gross elements (ākāśa, vāyu, teja, jala, prthvī), and the Spirit of the form of intelligence.
1. See Thomas, F.W. (1968), “The Flower-Spray of the Quodammodo
Doctrine - Śrī Mallişeņa Suri's Syādvāda-Manjarī”, p. 93-94.
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