Indian Philosophy

Author(s): Sukhlal Sanghavi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 20

Philosophy--Origin and Subject-matter
Really speaking, tattvadarśana is yogic cognition which is kuown to certain traditions under the title 'rtambharā prajñā 10 or 'kevalajñāna-cumkevaladarśana'. But at the same time, all these traditions also confer the designation 'darśana’li on such a firm faith in ( the efficacy of) darśana as is had even in the absence of darśana itself; faith had in (the efficacy of) that direct daršana which relates to things supersensuous - a faith had in the absence of such a daršana itself-is to be called darśana' only in a secondary, practical or indirect sense.
One thing more has to be understood in this connection; whatever philosophical texts there are which undertake a treatment of the science of spiritual realization (=adhyatmavidyā) contain a treatment that belongs to the category śravana (=listening ), cintana-cum-mapana ( cogitation-cumpondering ) and may be nididhyasana ( = penetration ). In accordance with this line of reasoning the word 'darśana' originally stood for visual experience and then through a transfer of epithet for very lucid mental experience independent of eyes. Afterwards, it came to stand for the faith had in this very lucid mental experience and gradually for the argumentation, cogitation etc. which bring about such a mental experience as also for the texts which undertake a treatment of it.
Hence it is that such texts, even if they are directed towards things spiritual, are found to harbour sharp mutual difference and to undertake severe criticism of one another. Thus is accounted for that mutual difference, disputation and criticism which one comes across in scriptural texts even in case there happens to occur no mutual difference as regards the final darśana itself.12
Generally speaking, the supposition uptil now was that the initial seeds of philosophical speculation ( =tattvacintana ) are there in certain hymns of Rgveda, 13 Such a supposition impels a researcher to argue as if philosophical speculation took its rise with the seers (=authors) of these hymns themselves; but this supposition is now undergoing modification. Ever since research was undertaken related to Indus-civilization and Dra. vadian civilization, thought given to the remnants of the religion and mode
10 Rtambharā tatra prajña. Srutãounānaprajñābhyān anyavişaya višeşārthatvát.
- Yogasūtra 1.48-49 Mohakṣayāt jñānadarśanāvaranāntarāyakşayac ca kevalam -Tattvärthasūtra 101 Kusalacittasampayuttam vipassanā frānam pañña.
- Visuddhimagga 14,2 11 Tattvārthasraddhānam samyagdarśanam.
--Tattvărthasūtra 1.2 12 For a discussion on the different meanings attached to the word 'darsana' see my
essay-collection 'Darshan aur Chintan' pp. 67-78. 13 Rgveda 1.164; 10. 5, 27, 88, 129 etc,