The Samkhya System : a History of the Samkhya Philosophy

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In the diverse content of the Upanisads, certain key ideas emerge, particularly the doctrine of the identity of the individual self, Atman, with the universal essence, Brahman. This notion suggests a unity within the universe, though the two concepts may stem from different philosophical traditions. Brahman encompasses various meanings, including the sacred hymn of the Brahman priest and the magic of primitive practices, reflecting both religious and magical dimensions. Conversely, Atman, often associated with the trunk of the body in earlier texts, evolves to signify the essential self of humanity. The Upanisads, particularly through Yajnavalkya's teachings in the Brhaddranyaka Upanisad, conclude that the Atman, as the knowing subject, is unknowable, while the ever-changing empirical world is merely an illusion. This high point of thought, however, is not consistently upheld. Despite the acceptance of the self's unity with the universe, an irreducible element remains that is not the self yet is integral to reality. This is illustrated by the notion that the Atman permeates the body entirely. To address the existence of this additional element, the concept of creation, familiar from Brahmana cosmogonies, is employed. The Chdndogyo Upanisad describes how the self, desiring multiplicity, creates matter and enters it as life. This perspective allows for a reality to matter and the individual soul, leading to the development o