The History of Indian Philosophy

Skhya and Yoga

K EY T ERMS

gu[

a single thread or strand of a cord or twine,

an element or quality of Prakti

gua
Guna

sv

being, existence, reality;

the gua of lucidity, lightness, goodness

sattva
Sattva

rjs!

the gua of passion, activity

rajas
Rajas

tms!

the gua of inertia, darkness, ignorance, heaviness

tamas
Tamas

a[ayam

Breath exercises: the fourth limb of Yoga

pryma
Pranayama

Xyan

Meditation: the seventh limb of Yoga

dhyna
Dhyana

smaix
samdhi
Samadhi

Absorption, Concentration,: the final 8th

limb of Yoga, the goal of Yoga, complete
absorption into the pure consciousness of Purua

The History of Indian Philosophy

kEv Ly
Kaivalya
Kaivalya

Skhya and Yoga

perfect isolation, absolute unity, detachment of
the soul from matter and all further
transmigrations, the goal of Yoga, the state of
being attained in samdhi

ic
Citta
Citta

mental processes, the mind-stuff which Yoga

seeks to restrain

Q UESTIONS
1.
Explain the basics of Skhya theory, the relationship between Purua and
Prakti, its theory of evolution, and its conception of liberation.
2.

Why is causality a central topic in Skhya philosophy?

3.

According to Skhya philosophy, the effect must preexist in the cause. What
does it mean to say the effect preexists in the cause and why is this view so
crucial for Skhya theory?

4.

What is the goal of yoga practice as announced in the opening of Patajalis Yoga
Stras? How does yoga practice thus lead to liberation as conceived in Skhya
philosophy?

5.

According to Patajalis Yoga Stras, what are the five hindrances, or

impairments (kleas), that block the awareness of ones true essence?

6.

What are the eight limbs or methods (Sdhans) of achieving the goal of yoga as
described in Patajalis Yoga Stras? Do the limbs form a hierarchy?

The History of Indian Philosophy

Skhya and Yoga

S KHYA T HEORY
Purua

Prakti
(composed of the guas: sattva, rajas, tamas)

Antakaraa (The Inner Organs or Gatekeepers: Buddhi, Ahakra, Manas)

Pra (The Five Breaths: pra, apna, samna, udna, vyna)
Buddhi (Intelligence) / Mahat (The Great One)

Sattva
the light element

Ahakra (Sense of Self, Ego)

Rajas
Tamas
the activating element
the heavy element

Manas (Mind)
Bhyendriya (The Ten Gates):
Jnendriya (The Five Sense Faculties)

Tanmtra (The Five Subtle Elements)

seeing, hearing, smelling,

sound, touch, color-shape

tasting and touch

flavor and smell

Karmendriya (The Five Faculties of Action)

Paramu (Subtle Atoms)

Sthlabhtni (The Five Gross Elements)

speech, grasping, walking

Ether, Air, Fire

evacuating and procreating

W ater and Earth

Y OGA P RACTICE
Kleas (The Five Hindrances)
1. Avidy (nescience, ignorance); 2. Asmit (egoism); 3. Rga (attachment, affection); 4. Dvea
(aversion, repugnance, hatred); 5. Abhinivea (love of life, the will to live, clinging to life)
Sdhans (The Eight Methods or Limbs of Yoga)
1. Yama (The 5 Restraints: non-violence, non-lying, non-stealing, non-grasping, celibacy)
2. Niyama (Observances: cleanliness, contentment, purificatory action, study, devotion)
3. sana (body postures)
4. Pryma (skillful breathing exercises)
5. Pratyhra (control of the senses)
6. Dhra (concentration)
7. Dhyna (meditation, meditative absorption)
8. Samdhi (highest state of meditation, concentration, trance, a state of enstasis or enstasy)