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The Path of Arhat : A Religious Democracy
this evolution of Praksti' and what role it plays. Other question is what is the proof of its existence.
All organic things have life in them, which is known as 'soul. It is pure consciousness. According to Sankhya, the evolution of Praksti is the self evolution caused by the interplay of its three Gupas, though Prakrti has no consciousness of its own. But onething must be noted that this evolution can not take place without the presence of Puruşa.
Sarkhya philosophers attribute this consciousness to 'Puruşa' which is known as 'Atman' or 'Jiva' in other systems. According to Sankhya, the existence of this 'Puruşa' can be established as under:
(1) This aggregate of physical objects evolved by Praksti must exist for the sake of something else just as a bed which is the assemblage of different parts is meant for the use of some one else to sleep.
( 2 ) If three Gunas exist in all the objects of Prakrti, there musi be an observer who can evaluate the Guņas.
(3) If Gupas have their interplay there must be some coordinator of this play.
(4) Human life has a longing for liberation from pains of existence and so there must be some conscious principle which longs for liberation.
It is apparent that these arguments are teleological in as much as they seek to establish the doctrine of final cause by trying to show that developments are due to the purpose or design that is sought to be fulfilled by them. Bondage and Liberation
'Puruşa' as the 'self' is a pure soul quite different from body which is an evolute of 'Praksti'. As the real character of *Puruş?' is consciousness, it heips to bring the products of evolutionary chain into self-consciousness. It illuminates the whole sphere of thought and feeling. 'Puruşa' is self-luminous by nature. It is therefore called 'Sadaprakaśa Svarūpa'.
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