Sambodhi 1975 Vol 04

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 23

VEDIC ORIGINS OF THE SANKHYA DIALECTIC
Harsh Narain
The dominating section of Sankhya scholarship today is inclined to trace the orgins of the Sänkhya to non-Vedic, ante-Vedic, and even antiVedic traditions. The present author proposes to strike a note in this paper. To us, the tendency is an index to the sad plight of Vedic studies at our hands and is responsible for much misreading of Indian philosophy, bistory and culture. It is a big topic, however, and refuses to be covered in a single paper of morderate size. In the present paper, therefore, we will content ourself with attacking the problem of the origin of not the Sānkhya entire but only the Sankhya dialectic.
According to the Sankhya, as embodied in the Sankhya texts proper available today, the ultimate reality is twofold the spiritual (Puruşa) and the psycho-physical (Prakrii). The psycho-physical principle to which the
is ultimately reducible is said to have three dimensions (guna-s) : Satlva, Rajas and Tamas. There are, that is to say, three dimensions to whatever there is, apart of course from the spiritual unities called Puruşa-s. This trilogy of dimensions translates Variously but not aptly. Neither Epglish nor any other language for that matter has any appropriate equival. ents for the trilogy, which is so multidimensional that one has to content oneself with partial translation by selecting a particular dimension of the concept as the occasion demands. It would be advisable, therefore, to bring home to the reader the richnes of the trilogy in content by juxtaposing to it as general equivalences as possible, current somewhere or other, independ. ently, such as the following, culled from different sources, including Western thought and Sufism. Sativa Rajas Tamas | Knowing Wiling Feeling Mind Life Matter | Pleasure Pain
Ennui Elan Elan vital Elan
Rhythm Mobility Inertia intellectual
mechanical Light Energy/ Darkness Intelligence Instinct Torpori
Activity Logistikon Thumos Epithumia Nür (light) Barzakh Zalman Reason Passion Appetitel
(midway) (darkness Spirit
. | Rūḥ (soul) Nafs (life) Şūrat(form) Knowledge Action Desire Zat
sifat
Asma'-o | (existence) (essence) Af'al
(Dames and works