12.3 Major Philosophical Thinkers and Schools

Major Philosophical Thinkers and Schools

2020-04-27 12 :09: 08 #review

What Were the Shramana/Hetrodox/Nastika School ?

  • Jainism
  • Buddhism
  • Ajivikas
  • Ajnanas : believed in radical skepticism and that ignorance is best
  • Charavakas

What Were the Philosophical Schools during Ancient and Early Medieval India?

Samkhya

  • aastik or orthodox shcool
  • 25 principles but main was that there are 2 realities viz. Purusha and Prakriti
  • Sankhyakarika by Isvarakrishna oldest surviving text

Yoga

  • very close to Samkhya adds divine entity to it
  • Deals with controlling the body
  • basic text from Yoga Sutra of Patanjali 2nd Cent BC
  • More recent studies and commentaries done by Vyasa

Nyaya

  • propounded by Aksapada Gautama
  • based on logic and epistemology (origin of knowledge)
  • Pakshilavasmin Vatsyayana main expositor

Vaisheshika

  • by Maharishi Kanaad
  • interested in Physics all objects are finite in number.
  • Believes that laws of karma guide this universe ie everything is based on the actions of Human beings.
  • Believed in salvation which was parallel to the creation and destruction of the universe and cyclic decided by the wishes of God.
  • complementary and older than Nyaya.
  • Greatest commentator was Prashastapada.

Purva Mimamsa

  • based on nature of Dharma, theology of vedas
  • sought to explain and revive vedas
  • Earliest text were Sutras of Jaimini for Mimamsa but Shabarasvamin was greatest early Mimamsa scholar

Charavaka

Charavaka

  • Believed in complete materialism
  • held that an individual's body is formed of matter and finally would end in matter. Thus aim of life should be material pleasure.
  • aka Lokayata.
  • Purana Kassapa preached the doctrine of Akriya or non-action ie no action would lead to either merit of demerit.
  • Ajita Kesakambalin preached that everything ended with death and there is no further life after death.
    • Per him there is nothing wrong in enjoying the pleasures of the world.
    • No person possessed higher/supernatural power
    • His teachings can be found in the Sandaka Sutta and Apannaka Sutta of the Majjhima Nikaya and in the Samannaphala Sutta.
    • Doctrines of this school were primarily drawn from his teachings.
    • He wore a garment made of hair and lived an ascetic life. He did not wear any precious ornaments.
    • His opponents have called him hedonistic (engaged in pursuit of pleasure) but no such evidence have been found of it.
  • Pakudha Kachchayna preached the doctrine of Asasvatavada.
    • there are 7 elements that are immutable ie they do not contribute to pleasure or pain body ultimately dissolves into them.

Lokayata

  • similar to charvaka rejects supernaturalism

Vedanta/ Uttara Mimamsa

  • various interpretations of Upanishadic thought came to be known as Vedanta aka Uttara Mimamsa.
  • Badrayana formulated main tenets of Uttara Mimamsa but most forceful expounder was 2.1 Philosophy > Shankaracharya and Vedanta
  • Shankara greatest scholar of Advaita Vedanta (non dualist) he said there is only one single unified reality Brahmana and everything else is not fully real

Prominent Sects under Vaishnavism

Varkari Panth

  • Worship Vithoba mainfestation of Vishnu at the Pandharpur temple.
  • Avoids alcohol and tobacco
  • celebrate the Vari Varkari festival
  • Jnaneshvar, Namdev, Eknath and Tukaram were some noted followers of this sect

Ramanandi Sampradaya

  • adhere to the teachings of Advaita scholar Ramananda
  • aka Vairagis or Bairagis, they worship Rama.
  • perform meditation and ascetic practices.

Brahma Sampradaya

  • founder was Madhvacharya
  • Chaitanya Mahaprabhu(1486-1533) is also associated with it.
    • most prominent Vaishnava saint of Bengal
    • was looked as an avatar of Krishna
    • exalted the superiority of Krishna over all dieties
    • disregarded caste distinctions but did not question authority of Brahmanas or caste privileges

Pushtimarg Sampradaya

  • founded by Vallabhacharya
  • their philosophy is that ultimate truth is one & only one Brahm.

Nimbarka Sampradaya

  • they are followers of Radha and Krishna

Prominent Sects under Shaivism :

  • Siddhas : they practice sadhna and are said to have attained physical immortality through spiritual perfection.
  • Nathpanthi : aka Siddha siddhanta, they adhere to the teachings of Goraknath and Matsyendranath. they use Hatha Yoga.
  • Lingayatism : aka Veerashaivism, believes in Monotheism. Rejects the authority of Vedas and Caste system; established by Basavanna.
  • Dashanami Sanyasis : associated with the Advaita Vedanta tradition
  • Aghoris