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MTUEB OP COKOXOreffiBS IH H1OTU PHILOSOPHY«

S J C eS ah sen a , MiiU ( A l l d ) .

P h e s i s s u b m i t t e d f o r t h e d e g r e e o f PhoDe ( I n d i a n P h i l o s o p h y ) of:" t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f L on d o n i:

S c h o o l o f O r i e n t a l 8s A f r i c a n S t u d i e U n i v e r s i t y o f London,*

Londohi-

1 9 5 9 ,

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■ AH ABSTRACT OF I HE THESIS Oil ’ KATDRE' OF-eOKSCIQUSJffiSS’■ M n UL^IJ. I I i « t » I M w i ^ i i i > « i i ' W i i I I I l l ' l l I II I I III i n i « i n i « , I l l ' l l I | " l * i n n n w i i i i p « « n H I M HI i n i , h i i i ^ I I I

IH IITIDTJ PEILOSQPHT,

The s t u d y ; o f Hindu P h ilo so phy has so , f a r b een dom inated by a p u r e ly h i s t o r i c a l i n t e r e s t , end n o t i n f r e q u - -■

e n t ly j / i t i s more a t is i e - h o h o m ' e d / s p e c if i c sy stem th a n a;

p h ilo s o p h ic a l, problem i n g e n e r a l w h ich h as a t t r a c t e d tlie •;

s c h o la r $1 3?he stu d y o f Hindu meta'physica';*' V iew ed from ' t h i s s ta n d p o in t alone^ i s inadequate^ / s i n c e i t f a i l s t o r e v e a l a l l t h e c o n se q u e n c e s and p o s s i b i l i t i e s w h ich on ce a p p r e c i-:

a te d iv w o u ld d em o n stra te /In d ia n s tr u e c o n t r ib u t i o n t o t h e / j h i s t o r y o f P h ilo s o p h y i n g e n e r a l . Hence th e p r e s e n t stu d y, en d eavou rs t o t r a c e .o n e problem ~ t h a t o f th e Hature o f C o n s c io tis n e s s th r o u g h 'th e p r e - s y s t e m a t ic and s y s t e m a t ic :i- t i m e s , and s e t s f o r t h and e s t im a t e s th e r e s p e c t i v e v ie w s o f t h e le a d i n g ^Schools , o f th o u g h t oh t h i s problem h :

.v -pg^-,a-^critieal - e x a m i m t i o n / o f d iv e r g e n t v ie w s on c o n s c i o u s n e s s > i t i s m a in ta in e d t h a t c o n s c io u s n e s s ca n n o t be e i t h e r a p rod u ct o f u n c o n s c io u s s u b s t a n c e s , or a d g d n a 1 o r *

* Karma1 o f th e Atman,1 a s h e ld b y th e m a t e r i a l i s t s ^ th e r e a l i s t s , ’ a n d .th e s e m i - i d e a l i s t s , lilc o Prabhalcara and / Hamanuia:v ;;I t i s th e v e r y , sv a ru p a l o r th e i n d e s t r r i c t ib l e

e s s e n c e o f th e Atman, and ■ u ltim a te ly , th e two term s Ts e l f f ; and f e o n s e io u s n e s s T a r e synonym ous;/ C o n s c io u s n e s s e x i s t s in d e p e n d e n tly and u n c o n d it io n a lly a s th e b a s ic s p o s t u la t e o f e l l k n o w led g e,a n d e x p e r ie n c e ; /

(5)

E p i s t e m o l o g i c a l l y , c o n sc io u sn e ss- i s u n iq u e , la n yad -ey a*

in a s m o h a s i t i s s e l f - c o g n i s e d w ith o u t, b e in g , an o b j e c t o fy y c o g n itio n * ; 1 sv a p r a k a sa 1 I t i s d i r e c t l y and im m e d ia te ly

i n t u i t e d by Ta p a r o k sa jn a n af % ,

P s y c h o l o g i c a l l y , by a stu d y o f th e problem s o f ^

s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i t i s r e v e a le d th a t,, th e u s u a l d i s t i n c t i o n s w i t h i n c o n s c i o u s n e s s , o f > th e knower and th e known p resu p p ose / th e r e a l i t y o f a h ig h e r and d i s t i n c t i o n l e s s c o n s c io u s n e s s y w h ich i s d e v o id b o th o f o b j e c t - c o n s c i o u s n e s s and e g o - ^ / con sciou sn ess*-* / T h is u lt i m a t e and u n d i f f e r e n t i a t e d co n scio u s^ ?

n e s s p e r s i s t s u n d e str o y e d a l s o in d eep s l e e p 1*/ /

T r a n s c e n d e n t a lly , an U nchanging c o n s c io u s n e s s a s Ts a k s i T and ^ A karta1 i s shown t o be above e x p e r ie n c e : i t i s i n c o n t r a s t w ith th e ch a n g in g f l u c t u a t i o n s o f th e e m p ir ic a l! ! !

c o n s c io u s n e s s ’*; -:'; c •' . Mvy‘

F i n a l l y , by an e x a m in a tio n o f th e t h e o r i e s o f 1

r e l a t i o n s h i p , b etw een th e t r a n s c e n d e n ta l- and th e phenomenal ! c o n s c io u s n e s s ^ i t i s s u g g e s te d t h a t t h e l o g i c a l u n s o l v a b i l i t y : o f / t h e problem from th e i n t e l l e c t u a l l e v e l makes room f o r a s u p r a - l o g i c a l v i s i o n o f th e Tr\rth*f

In c o n c l u s i o n , t h e d i s t i n c t i v e Hindu p e c u l i a r i t i e s >

o f t h e s e s p e c u l a t i o n s a r e s t r e s s e d i n c o n t r a s t w ith th e

s p e c u l a t i o n s o f th e W estern T h ou g h ts :V:

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GOHCEMES.

PiBS I .

fw r.'tv it ; . .t*L.sr * z ■-> *>*t .

C h a p te r 1® 1 *v 3.?

■*» ■»* *-4.Tiu v g ;» n » ftH = S C T i.g tta iia

I n tr o d u ct ion*

Manf s p la c e in th e Cosmos -' The meaning o f C o n sc io u s n e ss « h eed o f a s y s t e m a t ic stu d y o f th e problem s o f c o n s c io tis n e s s from Hindu P h ilo so p h y - The method o f stu d y « A b r i e f sta te m e n t o f th e problem

~ The sco p e o f th e en q u iry#

Chapter II® T 18 « 56

►^».iWln.i|if i. i mr~lP3n«T7^v*^*>P-':y

The p re ^ sy steB ia tic s p e c u l.a t io n s »■

The cosm ic n a tu re o f th e p r e - s y s t e m a t ic e n q u ir y ~ The n a tu re o f th e U ltim a te H e a l i t y in th e Bg^IlYeda » T r a n s it io n

from th e p re-U p a n i^ a d ic t o th e U p a n isa d ie r e f l e c t i o n « C o n sc io u sn e ss in th e Upan-

is a d s - P r o g r e s s iv e d e d u c tio n o f th e n a tu re o f th e S t man - The At man as_ th e body -• The Atman as 1 Pran a1 - T h e Atman a s ^PrajHa1 - I he Atman a s S u b je c t ^ t h e Atman a s * c i t f - J C o n sc io u s n e ss and Ananda

- I s th e U p a n isa d ie v ie w o f th e A b so lu te C o n sc io u sn e ss a g n o s t ic ? The v i e v ^ o f Deus&en and Prof® Johnston® 1

Pf f i l I I

C hapter I I I . THE OhlQXDGICAI. MATURE OF CONSCIOUS- L -tiw & ttiiili>.--*CT<>^nsctw>'Ticistrtr»t3n™ e!W 44*tii»£a4»w c*v*:^*av=*ar’a x r S 3 P * t ! * l 57 ^ 98

a

What i s c o n s c io u s n e s s ?

5!he d i f f e r e n t v ie w s o f C o n s c io u s n e s s - The h i h i l i s t d e n i a l o f c o n s c io u s n e s s - The v ie w o f th e M a te r ia l R e a l i s t «' The I d e a l i s t i c c r i t i c i s m o f M a te r ia lis m ->*

The Hyaya V a is e a ik a c r i t i c i s m o f M ater­

i a l i s m - The v iew o f th e S p i r i t u a l

R e a l i s t The Car aha Sam hita on c o n s c io u s ­ n e s s « The I d e a l i s t i c c r i t i c i s m o f th e R e a l i s t ~ The I d e a l i s t v ie w ^ o f C o n s c io u s ­

n e s s - The Mimansa v ie w - Ramanuja1 s v ie w

<jf c o n s c io u s n e s s D if f e r e n c e s b etw een S an k ara, P rabhakara, and Ramanuja A r e » v ie? / and a c r i t i c a l e s t i m a t e .

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Pages..' C hapter I ? . THE EPISTEMOIiO&ICAh BATURB OF OOB~‘ 93 A 129

15

IQIJSHESS.

C o n sc io u sn e ss and 3 e lf - illu m in a c .y »■

The n a tu re o f th e meaning o f s e l f - illu m in a c y - S e lf - illu m in a c y in th e TJpanisads - The^ 1 svapralcjisa v a d a 1 o f

•^he A d v a ita Y edanta o f^ B an k ara*5 S r ih a r f a t Yxdyur a r y a ^ - e i t suM m*1 and o th e rs * - The 1 t r ip u t ip i’alcasa v a d a 1 o f Prabhalcara - The Sankhy a-Yoga on s e l f - illu m in a c y - The r e a l i s t T asvapralcasai Ta da 1 or th e th e o ry o f 1 anuvyavasaya1

- The Byaya Bhasya on s e l f - l u m i no s i t y - The jr ie w o f Kumferila; h is th e o r y ^ o f

^ J n a ta ta 1 T G r it ie is m o f f j i |a t a t a T ^by S^ridhara, S iY a d ity a , and K esava^M isra -

§ a n ta r a fc s ita Ys e r i t i e i s m o f ICumarila - S r ld h a r a 'o n s e l f - i l l u m i n a c y - J a y a n ta * s c r i t i c i s m o f se 1 f ~ i l ltuninaey « Bamanuja and s e lf « illu m iij a e y ^ « The th e o r y o f

^ rd h a -m ra p ra k a sa Yada1 - S e l f - l l l u m i n a c y and a b s o lu te immediacy « ! Svata^pralca^atYa and Aparolc§atYaT - n S e l f - i l l u m i n a c y o f

c o n s c io u s n e s s and Ivlysticism - C o n sc io u s­

n e s s i s Ts u i g e n e r i s 1 - C on clu sion *.

IHB iBYCHOLa^IGAL 1ATI5B1 OF COB- 130 - 162

~ 30 JQUBlEgS

C.onscion s n e s s and S e l f - c o n s c i o u sn e s s ^

The paradox o f s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s - S e l f - c o n s c io u s n e s s in th e Upanissads The

A d v a ita v iew o f s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s ; o f Sankara; o f l a t e r A d v a i t i s t s -^ Y a e a sp a ti M isra , Appayya Piles i t a Padmapada, Y id y a r- a n y a t Blmr raar a j adhvar in d r a * Ghitsixlcha -

S e l f - c o n s c io u s n e s s a c c o r d in g t o th e Sankhya- Yoga - Prablmkara on S e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s -

S e l^ r c o n s e io u s n e s s a c c o r d in g t o th e Hyaya- V a is e s ik a - K umarila B h a tta on S e l f - e o n - s c io u s n e s s - The c h i e f d i f f i c u l t y o f th e I d e a l i s t i c and th e B e a l i s t i c t h e o r i e s The two realm s o f c o n s c io u s n e s s ; th e tPararaarthika*

and jfche f Y y sy a h a rik a 1 - An ex a m in a tio n o f

BamanuiaTs c r i t i c i s m o f e g o - l e s s c o n s c io u s n e s s - E g o le s s c o n s c io u s n e s s and deep s l e e p -

The c o n c lu s io n *

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Chanter V I.. THE TRAHSCEHDEBTAIi M.THHE OF COH- 163 - --- WSHtffiSSESSTr '

The T r a n sc e n d e n ta l la t t ir e o f • Q o n scio u sn esa

I n tr o d u c tio n - C on sciotasn ess i s e t e r n a l and a ll- p e r v a d in g « I t i s u n cau sed -• Un­

d i f f e r e n t i a t e d and d i s t i n c t i o n l e s s U n ity ~ I t i s ^asanga1 and * lte v a la T - The i n t e l l ­ e c t u a l g r a sp o f th e tr a n s c e n d e n t a l co n ­ s c io u s n e s s - The method o f Adhyaropa - T r a n sc e n d e n ta l c o n s c io u s n e s s and D e fin ­

i t i o n - T r a n sc e n d e n ta l c o n s c io u s n e s s and Language - T r a n sc e n d e n ta l c o n s c io u s n e s s and P r o o f - - C r it ic is m s o f T r a n sc e n d e n ta l c o n s c io u s n e s s ; o f Ramanuja; o f th e Hyaya- V a is e s ilea - The T r a n sc e n d e n ta l C o n s c io u s ­ n e s s and B l i s s - The P o s i t i v i s t and th e l e g a t i v i s t v ie w -■ The P o s i t i v i s t v iew o f the^ V edanta - The Sanlchya c r i t i c i s m o f th e Vedanta - The ITyaya c r i t i c i s m -• The A d v a ita answer - T r a n sc e n d e n ta l c o n s c io u s n e s s and Change - C r it ic is m o f th e v ie w o f t h a t co n ­ s c io u s n e s s i s e v e r ch an gin g - A c t i v i t y as

'T a la 1 - The c o n c lu s io n .

Chap te r V II* SOB

C o n sc io u sn e ss and U nconec1o u s n e s s v

A sta te m e n t o f th e problem o f t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p « What i s U n c o n sc io u sn e ss?

The A d v a it ie t h e o r i e s o f th e r e l a t i o n s h i p

~ The 1 .Bimba -p r a tib im b a -v a d a 1 or th e th e o r y o f r e f l e c t i o n * The 1 Avaec he d a -v a d a T or th e th e o r y o f l i m i t a t i o n - The 1 Maya Yada1 or th e th e o r y o f ^ I llu s io n - C r it ic is m o f th e th e o r y o f Maya - The v ie w o f th e d u a l i s t SanMiya-Yoga - The i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f e x p e r ­

ie n c e on SahMaya-Y oga met a p i t i e s -

C r it ic is m o f th e th e o r y o f th e in te r m e d ia r y n a tu re o f Tb u d d h if « The e x p la n a t io n s o f P r o f s ♦ B asgupta and Binha n o t w e ll-fo u n d e d The d u a l i s t i c t h e o r i e s o f r e l a t i o n s h i p - The th e o r y o f 1san nid h im atra* or p ro x im ity The th e o r y o f Tp u ru §a rth aT or u n c o n sc io u s t e l e o l o g y - The th e o r y o f TY o g y a ta T or p r e - e s t a b l i s h e d harmony - C r it ic is m o f th e d u a l i s t i e t h e o r i e s - The c o n c l u s i o n s

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Pages*

Chapter V I I I : 250 27 1

The Ep ilo g u e

A .resume o f th e main i s s u e s o f d i s c u s s i o n - The o n t o l o g i c a l independence o f c o n s c io u s - ' n e s s -■ The e p is t e m o lo g ic a l u n iq u e n e ss o f c o n s c io u s n e s s - The t r a n s c e n d e n t a l a s p e c t o f c o n s c io u s n e s s as an u n ch an gin g 1 safes i 1 or an u n a tta c h e d ’ fe ev a la 1 - The d i s t i n c t i v e t r a i t s o f th e Hindu v iew o f c o n s c io u s n e s s - E x p e rien ce n ot th e f i n a l s ta g e o f Man - The

s t a t u s o f L ogic and B easo n in Hindu and

W estern ^ Id ealism - A n em phasis on i n t u i t i o n , TUpasanaT, : and d i s c i p l i n a r y Sadhana in Hindu p h ilo so ploy - The r e l e g a t i o n o f th e C o n scio u s and th e M ental o f th e W estern p h ilo so p h y to th e realm o f th e U n con sciou s and th e M a te r ia l

i n H in d u ‘P h ilo so p h y “ The r o l e o f Pure Con­

s c io u s n e s s in th e id e a lis m s o f th e E a st and th e West*^

* APm iracEB *

l i 1

2 7 2 - 2 8 6 The problem o f e x p e r ie n c e in Sanfehya-Yoga

m e ta p h y sics w ith s p e c i a l r e f e r e n c e t o

V a c a s p a ti and V ijnanahhifesuo ;

2 ’ The ^ svapramaumtva1 and th e ’ s v a p r e - 287 - 298

^ c a s a tv a ’ o f c o n s c io u s n e s s 1 - An in c o n ­ s i s t e n c y in K um arila1 s philosophy*^

BIBLIOGRAPHY*

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I . W. ,P® In d ia n and W estern P h ilo so p h y .. • ■ ‘ K* SV S . , ICasmere S a n s k r it S e r i e s . ' '

«&* &• Sv Inand asram a» S -a n sk r it' S e r i e s v G. S;* B . ; Ohaulchamba S a n s k r it. S eries® ' Y. S 0 SV . V izianagram ' S a n s k r it S e r i e s B

G-.V0. S . Uaelcawada O r ie n t a l S eries® . .

S .Z’.E . I . B . l ’ . S tu d ie n Zur B ig e h a r t I n d is c hen Ben3ce.it

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p a r t t.

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INTRODUCTORY:

:Man* s p la ce: -in th e c osmo s .

" 3?rom -th em o m en t, w hich how ever i s n o t th e prim ary ■

■ s t a g e , man s t a r t e d r e f l e c t i o n on h i s own b e in g , th e f a c t , o f h i s c o n s c io u s n e s s o r th e c o g n it i v e r e l a t i o n i n w h ich he

s to o d to th e w o r ld , has drawn h i s p e r s i s t e n t a t t e n t i o n . He . r e a l i s e d t h a t he had more i n him th an ‘o th e r s around him. He

1 " - - Y , : 1 - „ ; . v u • ~ > 'Y i - V h - 'Y V ' - • * ’•/- : • " „•■'; i: - « " '• ' b * k .•* ", j .. ^ • v ' Y - ' / c 'V - , - y ’ ^ Y * v r '- _ ' " \ ’ ' V '-* - ^ > - ' _ 1

d i f f e r e d in an u n m ista k a b le v/ay, from th e s t o n e , t h e p l a n t s - and th e a n im a ls,: how ever c l e v e r in t h e i r i n s t i n c t s or

d a n g e r o u s; i n ^ i t f e l r h a b i t s th e l a t t e r m igh t h e . He a lo n e in th e cosm s: had- th e - 'p r iv ile g e o f f u l l c o g n i t i o n , and r e a s o n , and chuld'^therefore'v.woiider and s t a r e a t th e m y ste r y o f t h i n g s , h im s e lf included*. vThe f a c t v o f h i s - b e i n g c o n s c io u s Y/as a

^ d i s t i n c t i o n . v it ; a tr pnce p u t l i i i a f a r . u bq ve vhi s u n iv e r s e , th a t e n t i r e and g ig a n t lc lp r b c e S s v o f z a d im e n s lo h le s s c r e a t io n , o f Which; ■ he-r-.Minself; waa^'but ■ a p r o d u c t. .. ForYthopgh i n i t , he

c o u ld ; y e t .vby: means :o f :h is; th ou gh t s t a n d ; a l o o f 1 f o r a moment and>lry: to 3mow what vthe c r e a t i o n i t s e l f was a b o u t. The u n c o n s c io u s - cosmos c o u ld -n o t do i t . Nor c o u ld i t know t h a t

d u r in g ;the; c o u r se o f i t s l o n g h i s t o r y , i t had chanced to

e v o lv e t h e b tr a n g e ^phenomenon o f th ou gh t and c o n s c io u s n e s s in;

m a u v f P i t t h a d o e y b l v e d i t s - ‘ o t h e r ’ , i t s r i v a l , who ..cou ld tu r n ’b a ck , r e f l e c t , and be c r i t i c a l o f i t s own maker*

Man, i n - t h i s r e s p e c t , was.-,.greater th an h i s Y/orld. But t h i s -

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a

i s o n ly one s id e ot th e p i c t u r e , f o r c o n s c io u s n e s s i s a d o u b le -e d g e d weapon* Man had to pay a b i g p r i c e f o r th e p r e r o g a t iv e o f h i s c o n s c io u s n e s s * For in h a v in g come to

p o s s e s s i n t e l l e c t , he a l s o l o s t som eth in g* By v i r t u e o f h i s b e in g endowed w ith th o u g h t, he had hoped to s u c c e e d i n

u n r a v e l l in g th e m y ste r y and th e m eaning o f l i f e and u n i v e r s e , but v a r y so o n he b;egan to doubt i f h i s i n t e l l e c t was n o t o n ly g iv e n t o m ode him a f t e r a l l * A w areness o f a s i t u a t i o n and

c a p a c it y to r e f l e c t , o n ly r a i s e s q u e stio n s- w here none p r e v i o u s ly e x i s t e d and o f t e n th e s p i r i t o f e n q u ir y i n t e r r o g a t e s o n ly to

l i s t e n t o th e ec h o e s o f i t s own q u e s tio n s * N atu re d o es n o t a lw a y s answ er * h e r e r t o man*s c r y o f *where * and q u e s t io n s r e g a r d in g how mid where o f th in g s * fa d e away i n t o th e dim

d is t a n c e o f an & li~ e n v e lo p in g s ile n c e * , i n th e e a r l i e s t H indu • l i t e r a t u r e , we rea d t h a t th e f a c e o f T ruth i s h id d en Ts a t y a s y l - pihitam-mukham^ and t h a t i s why man h as p ra y ed to t h i s a l l -

em bracing d a rk n e ss under v a r io u s nam es, s u g g e s t i v e o f th e t h ic k and th e m a ssiv e c o v e r in g , d e s ig n a t e d , now a s V aruna, now as

_ . few (S n

A d i t i , now a s j u s t a Maya, and now as D ark n ess or D eath*

A b i l i t y to be i n q u i s i t i v e i s n o t alw ays a b l e s s i n g , and man h a s r e a l i s e d i t to h i s a p p ro a ch in g d e s p a ir , a s s u f f i c i e n t l y

ev in ced , by th e c y c l e s o f deadlocks- and p e r i o d i c a l r e t u r n s o v er, and o v e r a g a in , o f th e same an sw ers t o th e v e r y same q u e s t io n s i n th e h i s t o r y o f human en q u iry* Any one a c q u a in te d w it h th e h i s t o r y o f e t e r n a l q u e s t io n in g s o f th e human m ind, w ould e a s i l y

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5

t e s t i f y to b u t l i t t l e s a t i s f a c t i o n and t o s o f a r o n ly s m a ll m easure o f s u c c e s s met , s i n c e he f i r s t s t a r t e d on h i s v e n tu r e

o f q u e s t io n in g r e f l e c t i o n s *

A part from th e c o n s id e r a t io n o f t h e s e r e l a t i v e l y , f u t i l e u s e s o f h i s g i f t s o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s , man h a s a l s o

l o s t i n th e com p arative p e a c e and b l i s s f u l n e s s o f an

u n c o g n it iv a and u n c o n s c io u s e x i s t e n c e ? He h a s o f t e n e n v ie d th e l i f e and h a p p in e s s o f h i s low er f e ll o w b e in g s * The

s p o n t a n e it y and th e r i c h n e s s o f th e grow th o f th e v e g e t a b le kingdom , th e pex*fect ordainm ant o f th e i n s t i n c t i v e a n im a l l i f e , o b l i v i o u s o f any q u e s t io n in g s r e g a r d in g th e o r i g i n

and d ev elo p m en t o f u n iv e r s e or i t s e l f h a s l e d man. to q u e s t io n th e v e r y im p ortan ce and w o r th w h ile n e s s o f h i s weapon o f

th o u g h t* i n f a c t , some l i f j e B erg so n have gone s o f a r as to a d v o c a te a rretvirxa to i n s t i n c t r *

But be i f a s i t may, th e f a c t rem ain s t h a t c o g n i t i o n s t i c k s to us a s anvtm shakable f a c t o f our l i f e * W hether f o r good or e v i l , we ca n n ot g a t out o f i t , and i t

i s w o r th w h ile , t h e r e f o r e , t o e n q u ir e in t o i t s n a tu r e and t r y t o know ab out i t a s much a s may be p o s s ib l e *

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4

The meani ng o f C o n scio u sn e s s : ~

C o n sc io u sn e ss i s h ere u sed t e n t a t i v e l y in th e s e n s e o p p o s it e to u n c o n s c io u s n e s s a s im p ly in g th e a w aren ess o f a

s i t u a t i o n c h a r a c t e r is e d by th e r e l a t i o n s h i p o f s u b j e c t and

o b j e c t in an a c t o f c o g n i t i o n . I t a l s o im p lie s th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f s e lfh o o d * an ’Aham pratyaya1 f o r no one i s e v e r e m p ir ic a lly c o n s c io u s w ith o u t b e in g i m p l i c i t l y c o n s c io u s a l s o o f o n e ’ s own

s e l f « A r e f l e c t i v e s e l f “f e e l i n g sh a rp ly d i v i d e s th e world o f c o n s c io u s n e s s from th e world o f u n c o n s c io u s n e s s . The 11 1 a s

th e d i s t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e o f th e realm o f c o n s c io u s n e s s i s a b s e n t from th e realm o f th e u n c o n s c io u s . 1 . A flo w e r in 8, bed o f f lo w e r s ; o r a p e b b le In a group o f p e b b le s i s n o t aware o f a n o th e r by i t s s i d e , and d o e s n o t ap p ear In any c o g n i t i v e

r e l a t i o n w ith i t s n e ig h b o u r . But i f we im agin e t h a t i t knows th e o t h e r , th en i t i s a t on ce r a is e d to th e s t a t u s o f a s u b j e c t w ith r e f e r e n c e to th e one which i s f o r th e moment th e o b j e c t o f

i t s a w a r e n e ss . And th e n , i f th e o th e r a l s o i s in i t s tu rn a s u b j e c t , th e u n c o n s c io u s group o f flo w e r s becom es a s o c i e t y o f s u b j e c t s w ith in t e r * - s u b j e c t iv e r e l a t i o n s . There i s no such th in g a s an u n c o n s c io u s i n t e r - o b j e c t i v e e x i s t e n c e , w hich i f i t e x i s t s i s so o n ly in th e mind o f a c o n s c io u s s u b j e c t . C o n scio u s­

n e s s or 1Samvit* i s t h e r e f o r e a c a p a c it y to be a s u b j e c t , and im p lie s th e p r e s e n c e o f a c o g n i t i v e r e l a t i o n *grahanaT betw een a

’g r a h y a r and a ’g r a h a k a r . I t i s th e p e c u l i a r illu m in a t io n o f 1 . V .S .3 .3 * 9 . 'A h am iti sabdasya V y a tir e k a t* .

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5 " ‘

’ jn a n a 'o r a w a ren ess w hich r e v e a l s th e s u b j e c t , th e o b j e c t and i t s e l f i n a c t o f k n ow led ge. I t I s som etim es s a id t h a t from dead

i *> < y ,

m a tte r i s e v o lv e d l i f e w hich i s n o t to h e e x p la in e d by th e c o n ce p t o f l i f e a lo n e . S im i la r il y ; from an u n c o n s c io u s ly l i v i n g

e x i s t e n c e , we s e e th e grow th o f k n ow led ge, r e f l e c t i o n , and c o n s c io u s n e s s , w hich i s an e n t i r e l y new mode o f r e a l i t y , and an u n iq u e a d d it io n to th e m y s t e r ie s o f th e u n iv e r s e we l i v e i n . We ask : what i s c o n s c io u s n e s s ? and f in d t h a t e x p la n a t io n s a ttem p ted from th e p u r e l y . ! m e c h a n is t i c r and...1 v i t a l i s t i c T s ta n d p o in ts f a i l to a cc o u n t f o r t h i s new r e a l i t y , f o r , c o n s c io u s n e s s r e f e r s to som eth in g so d i f f e r e n t from a n y th in g e l s e t h a t i t seems an u t t e r i m p o s s i b i l i t y to red u ce i t , . t o term s o th e r than i t s e l f .

That c o n s c io u s n e s s i s by common c o n se n t e n t i t l e d to our m ost r a t i o n a l c o n s id e r a t io n i s e v in c e d by th e grow in g i n t e r e s t tak en in su ch q u e s tio n s even by th e em inent

s c i e n t i s t who had^ t i l l now c la im s o n ly to n o n - p h ilo s o p h ic a l s p e c u l a t i o n s . N o tw ith s ta n d in g th e d i f f e r e n c e s i n th e v ie w p o in t or th e r e s u l t s o f t h e i r e n q u ir y , c o n s c io u s n e s s h a s come to he regard ed a s a s t o c k - i n - t r a d e n o t o n ly o f th e m e ta p h y sic ia n and th e p s y c h o l o g i s t * b u t a l s o o f th e p h y s i c i s t and th e b i o l o g i s t , >

f o r th e s im p le r e a so n th a t i t i s pima f a c i e , th e m ost d i r e c t and th e n e a r e s t r e a l i t y o f w hich any one who h a s ev er in t r o s p e c t e d i s m ost im m e d ia te ly aware o f . In o th e r w o rd s, i t i s an in ex p u g ­ n a b le datum and th e so u r c e o f a l l our th o u g h ts r e g a r d in g a l l our o b j e c t s o f d i f f e r e n t i n t e r e s t s . A l l th e o b j e c t s w ith w hich th e v a r io u s n o n - p h ilo s o p h ic a l s c i e n c e s d e a l , a r e o b j e c t s p r i n c i p a l l y in th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f . t h e s c i e n t i s t ;

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• ■ ; :N eed o f a s y ste m a t ic , s tu d y o f th e ;prob lem o f Consc io u s n e s s 7../ from Hindu P h ilo s o p h y . 7-1 - : 7';V'7.:\ 7-l.\7'7,l\7V 7 VVr. ■

>•' t a f c u r t l P f c H i n a .T 'fa ii* , ^

• ; A g l a n c e a t t he b o l d :and v i g o r o u s t h i n k i n g : done; in'^ /

; ; : :.. • • I n d ia " d u r in g I h e / lo n g - t o u n d is tu r b e d ;.

7 '•-'perib& kbeginning- w ith th e ; tim e o f th e U p a n isa d s, down t o v:7 ;

■ 7V' :;7'-V;7the^endydf t h a C e h t u r y A ;D; w i l l c o n v i n c e , a n y r e a d e r — 7;-S; -7 o f t h e h i s t o r y o f • I n d i a n t h o u g h t t h a t i n s p i t e . o f t h e .. ::; ;

, V; 77 f a u i : f e ! a n d ;h le m t o w h i c h V b o ^ fb f' t h e p l a t e r ; t h i n k e r s 7 ; "

. virere. p r o n e , su c h a s th e w r a n g lih g b etw e en t h e v a r io u s ' ■ : / y s y s te m s , qri^ the^:mere e n t t a s i h s m - ^ f b r . s u p re m a c y o v e r r i v a l , : ^ s e c t s o r s c h o o l s , t h e f a c t s ta n d s ., o u t i n p r o m i n e n t r e l i e f

• ; •. . :, .;;; t h a t t d u r i n g ' t h e i r v lp n g ; c ^ p s e S q f t h e o r e t i c a l L t h i n k i n g , ; ^ ' <v7 ; . ,;777* t h e H indu t h i n k e r s h a v e t h r a s h e d o u t a l m o s t a l l p h i l o s o p h i c a l .

; ■ ■ \ - c o n c e p t s v d i i p h t h e y npuld^poCslTlLy h a ^ . T |is y ; ■ 777.

7;7' have 'been; d a r in g ,e n o u g h t o have;. v:c a r r ie d .t h e i r ; r e a s o n in g s . .

• ■ VI - .• j l ; t q t h e i r ; f a r t h e s t l o g i c a l c o n c l u s i o n s , - D i s c u s s i o n s on, '717777

_7. a lm o st h li; c o n e q iv a b ie problem s r e l a t i n g t o a l l p o s s i b l e .777/

"'r77v7. , / >..0r .'-spheres;''of7IgiowledgeVandL7act;ip n y :;metaphyqi.cs>;7p s y c h o lo g y , 7 .. 7; • . V l o g i c , e p ls te m o lo g y , m o r a ls and la w , p h o n eticsv a n d . y o g a ,

V . "magic and, m e d i c i n e , a i l , l i e enm eshed and i n t e r t w i n e d \ i n v. 7777/

;■ :v-\ ; / one b ig V n u r s e r y ; o f p l a n t s r w i t h o u t much m o d ern d i s t i n c t i o n , , of- d i s c i p l i n e o r s y s t e m a t ic s e p a r a t io n . From th is .. r i c h . ■

•• 7/. ' V 77: n u rsery-m an y V a lu a b le s m a ll ;gard en s 7qf :;sep a ra teV p la n ts; may , 7"

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77' y 7.7V • rbe^ £ d r l 7i h 7t h i s bi;g!;p h i i ; d s b p M c a l 7 7 _ 7//7 7.jungle o f / I n d i a r i s y s t e m b , Vraany l H h i c k p l a h t 7 i s oy e r g ro w n

77f ;:7,:77 .7 7/vi n ; much r e s t r i c t e d /spade*..And / w h i l e . h e r e :and- t h e r e i s 7; 1 7; 7:7 1 7rmic^ a ; :f e w / c o r n e r s ’ a r e o v e r f u l l 7w i t h ; i n i x c l i 7 c o n c e n t r a t e d

77 / V/ : /;. /growth* T f e r e p l a n t i n g i n ; much w^ideV7a.n^;bigger

7 .7 7/ 7 ! ' a c c o m o d a t i o n v i n ; o r d e , r t o make i t s i f u l l s i g n i f i c a n c e ' a n d 7: - V;7;//7 -;:1oeati'fc^r u n y e i l l t s e l f * : : , 7 . i - ' i i l i • ■ 7 7,

7/7,,/ ; 7 / 7 7/7.7:7 7 - 7.7 . . O f a i l t h e problem s d e a r t o Eumah h e a r t , t h e 7'": 7 / 7 7/7;,,7v/^ pnbbleras7pf ^/hid/own b e in g /d n d /n atu re .has; c e r t a i n l y ,/been •

-one. 7 : I t / i d a commonplace t o a s s e r t , t h a t a t i l e a s t in so a n y t h i n g i i s / ' r e l a t e d ^ t o m a n e Very t h i n g i s w h a t i t i s /7 • /; 7 .7 77 b e c a u s e man i s w h a t : he i s , i* e77/a7 c o n s c l o u s a n d / c o g n i t i v e

'77/ 7,t . 7 7 '?;:77being*. ■ i / t v / t /,/:-77 7>‘ .7 7 / 7 1 . 7 7 , - • 77/7': ' 77-77'■ >7v; ■ . h\7,;;/7:7v7'v.//'/ / 7'/"" / E v e n i f t h e r e 1 l s 7 b < y n e t h i n g / b ^

7 , / 1; ; ■/’. ;777oohscibusness/ i t - i s as good a h ;/n b h 7 e x is te n t: (/so ;f a r / a s :/ ; 7 he i s con cern ed ) i n / a s much a d i t -does ;npt e n t e r i n t o any , - r e la t io n ,, w it h him p a t a l l * ^ T h u s /a ll- t h e / p rb b ierts ; o f ;manf Sv . /; - ; l i f e a re I h t h i s s e n s e a; p rob lem , o n ly o f h i s e o h s c i o u sn es s

o f ; th em .; ; Hence t h e prim ary:;ln^,brtanpe‘■ w ith Vh.3 ch 7 ; 7 • 7///V.777 -7--/ 7: ..'Hindu s e e k e r s haV eV devhted th eirim b stip iG fo u n d , a t t e n t i o n 7 7

•7 / 7/ 7 ;: 7to t h e ^ u n r a v e llin g / o f 7 th e m y ste ry o f c o n s c io u s n e s ^ 7^^^^/ ■ b /7 7/ / ' -.7;,,We-, m dat t o o f th e ; problem, /of ib b h s c ib u s n e s s ///

/77 . 77 / 7: / ;a l n p s t a l l p p o s s l b i e ’ v a r i e t y / a n d 7 d h a d b s 7 b f i d p i n i b n , ” / b e g i n n i n g

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8,

w i t h t h e t o t a l d e n i a l o f i t , t o t h e making o f c o n s c i o u s ­ n e s s t h e v e r y p r i u s an d t h e c e n t r e o f a l l r e a l i t y 5

Between t h e s e two e x t r e m e s o f t o t a l d e n i a l and

f o u n d a t i o n a l a f f i r m a t i o n , we: have a v a r i e t y o f many i n t e r m e d i a t e p o s i t i o n s and view p o i n t s * T h i n k e r s ,

b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e U p a n i s a d i c s a g e s , ' a l o n g w i t h Gautama,

^ <r ^ _

ICapila a n d B a d a r a y a n a , down t o S'anlcara a n d Ramanu-ja, S r i d h a r a and J a y a n t a have g i v e n s u c h a l t e r n a t i v e and

• c o n f l i c t i n g a n s w e r s t o t h e p ro b le m s o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s t h a t t h e r e i s h a r d l y a n answ er w h i c h i s n o t a f a m i l i a r a s i t s c o u n t e r a n s w e r , o r a s o l u t i o n w h i c h i s n o t so u n s a t i s f a c t o r y a s n o t t o g i v e r i s e t o a f r e s h p r o b l e m

i n t u r n v And now t h a t v e r y v a l u a b l e an d p i o n e e r work.

has a l r e a d y b e e n done by e m in e n t s c h o l a r s - l i k e S i r

R a d h a k r i s h n a n and o t h e r s i n making known I n d i a n P h i l - * o so p h y i n g e n e r a l t o t h e w e s t , t h e r e i s : a n e e d o f a

s p e c i a l s t u d y ( i n t h e l a n g u a g e o f modern m e t a p h y s i c s ) o f s i n g l e p r o b l e m s l i k e t h a t o f t h e " n a t u r e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s w i t h a v ie w t o r e - t h i n k and r e - p r e s e n t t h e H indu

c o n t r i b u t i o n t o w a r d s - a p o s s i b l e s o l u t i o n o f them©

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The Method o f ISn qu i r y : - ,

D u r i n g t h e l a s t f i f t y y e a r s o f o u r i n t e l l e c t u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s , our* h o r i z o n o f

k n o w le d g e o f t h e wisdom and p h i l o s o p h y o f t h e d i f f e r e n t r a c e s - ; , h a s v e r y much i n c r e a s e d * To-day we know more o f t h e d i s t i n c t l y wisdom and t h o u g h t o f t h e E g y p t i a n , t h e P e r s i a n t h e C h i n e s e an d t h e I n d i a n t h a n a few y e a r s ago* As u s u a l , t h i s new e r a

o f c u l t u r a l c o n t a c t b r o u g h t w i t h i t more e n t h u s i a s m t h a n

c a u t i o n , more sympathy t h a n p r e c i s i o n , a n d i t m a n i f e s t e d I t s e l l more and more i n t o c o m p a r a t i v e s t u d i e s , w here hxkrried s i m i l a r ­

i t i e s o f t h o u g h t , f a r removed In p l a c e , t i m e and c i r c u m s t a n c e s w e r e p a s s e d on a s e s s e n t i a l l y i d e n t i c a l * I t had been a c r a z e w i t h s c h o l a r s t o t a k e t o c o m p a r a t i v e w o rk s, and t o i n t e r p r e t ;

t h e o l d and t h e d i s s i m i l a r , i n t o t h e modern and t h e f a m i l i a r , w i t h o u t much c a r e o f t h e s t r i c t l y f a i t h f u l a d h e r e n c e t o t h e o r i g i n a l and t h e u n f a m i l i a r *

T hus, i n t h e e a r l y . t s t a g e s o f t h e c o m p a r a t i v e s t u d y of I n d i a n and W e s te r n p h i l o s p p h y i t was a f a v o u r i t e theme w i t h s c h o l a r s t o l i k e n and i d e n t i f y t h e V e d a n t i c A d v a i t i s m of

1 *

I n d i a ( w h i c h h a s i n i t s e l f many v a r i e t i e s ) w i t h t h e H e g e l i a n I d e a l i s m o f t h e W est, w i t h o u t m u c h - a t t e m p t t o p r e s e r v e t h e d i s t i n c t i v e i n d i v i d u a l i t y o f e i t h e r * A t t e m p t s a r e

so m e tim e s made t o d i s c o v e r a l l t h e modern p h y s i c s In t h e 1 V a i s e s i k a S u tr a S * o f Ifanada, w h i l e t h e S u t r a s of P a t a n j a l i h a v e b e e n t a k e n a s e i t h e r a h i g h e r

h See D e u s s e n f s e s s a y on fV e d a n t a , P l a t o , and K a n t 1*

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c o u r s e i n modern p s y c h o t h e r a p y , o r j u s t a h i g h e r t r e a t i s e in t h e o c c u l t s c i e n c e o f t h e m a s t e r y o f t h e e l e m e n t a l f o r c e s

f o r t h e e n jo y m e n t o f t h e w o r l d l y g a i n and p o w e r . R e f e r e n c e s : i n t h e U p a n i s a d s t o t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f i n t e l l e c t have been l i k e n e d t o Berg son i a n 11 r e t u r n t o t h e i n s t i n c t 11 and t o t h e c o m p l e t e d i s t r u s t o f r e a s o n . The same h a s b e e n d one w i t h t h e Nyaya and t h e modern l o g i c , where r e s e m b l a n c e s i n

s y l l o g i s m s e t c . h a v e b e e n p i c k e d up t o t h e e x c l u s i o n o f t h e i r i n d i v i d u a l i t i e s i n t h e f o r m u l a t i o n o f t h e problems®

The above I s n o t i n t e n d e d t o convey e i t h e r , t h a t t h e r e i s no r e a l s i m i l a r i t y betw e en t h e r i c h p h i l o s o p h i e s of any two c u l t u r e s o r t h a t t h e f u n d a m e n t a l and t h e e t e r n a l p r o b l e m s o f human r e a s o n , t h e i r r e a c t i o n upon man* s mind, and t h e i r e x p r e s s i o n s t o t h e s e r e a c t i o n s a r e n o t i n some ways s i m i l a r * To do t h i s would be t o do v i o l e n c e t o t h e v e r y p o s t u l a t e o f t h e u n i t y and t h e o b j e c t i v i t y o f human r e a s o n and t o

b e l i e v e i n t h e u t t e r i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f a u n i v e r s a l m e t a p h y s i c s . On t h e c o n t r a r y , we h a v e s t r i k i n g i n s t a n c e s o f b e a u t i f u l

p a r a l l e l s i n t h o u g h t s a s f a r removed i n t i m e and c i r c u m s t a n c e s a s W i l l i a m James and t h e B u d d h i s t , t h e m odem s c e p t i c l i k e ' HUME and t h e a n c i e n t Madhyamlka l i k e *Nagar j u n a 1 o r Dharmak-

i r t i , t h e s u b j e c t i v e I d e a l i s t b f t o d a y and t h e Y o g a c a r a

I d e a l i s t o f t h e yore« Not u n f r e q u a n t l y , w h i l e g o i n g t h r o u g h / a n a n c i e n t Hindu o r B u d d h i s t t e x t , one comes a c r o s s p r o b l e m s ,

s e t f o r t h and a r g u e d i n a manner w hich c o u l d n o t be d i s t i n g u i ­ s h e d from a c h a p t e r o f one o f t h e most modern t e x t s .

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11

• •But what i s o f - im p o rta n c e * i s t h a t a thorough-. / u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f any two d i f f e r e n t p h i l o s o p h i e s i n t h e i r h d i s t i n c t i v e i n d i v i d u a l i t i e s s h o u l d p r e c e d e c o m p a r is o n s * t;

f o r o t h e r w i s e * t h e c o m p a r a t i v e s t u d y * b a s e d on s u p e r ­ f i c i a l s i m i l a r i t i e s w o u ld be i n a d a n g e r o f d e g e n e r a t i n g i n t o a n e a s y d i s t o r t i o n o f b o th ;- The r e a s o n i s t h a t e a c h s i n g l e p h i l o s o p h y o f a p a r t i c u l a r c u l t u r e 1ms I t s own s p u l :;

I t h a s a n i n d i v i d u a l g e n i u s w h i c h c r e a t e s a s w e l l a s r e - a c i t o a p ro b le m i n i t s own s p e c i a l wayv T h i s f a c t o r o f

' i n d i v i d u a l i t y i n a s y s t e m o f t h o u g h t we c a n n o t a f f o r d ; t o i g n o r e w i t l u m t e f f a c i n g , a p h i l o s o p h y o f i t s s p e c i a l

f e a t u r e s f -f

I t i s n e c e s s a r y * / t h e r e f o r e * t o t r y t o d i s c o v e r - a s a p r e l i m i n a r y s t e p , f o r a p e r h a p s l a t e r * t h o u g h n o t a y e t a r r i v e d s t a g e o f s y n t h e s i s - t h e d i s t i n c t i v e a n d u n i q u e t r a i t s o f ' e a c h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e t h o u g h t o f a c u l t u r e b e f o r e a n a t t e m p t , i s made t o w a r d s a r a p p r o ah lament o f t h a n t ; The method o f i n d i v i d u a l s t u d y a n d c o n t r a s t * w h i c h p r o v i d e s a new a p p r o a c h t o t h e s t u d y o f c o m p a r a t i v e p h ilo so p h y * ; .is f t h e r e f o r e b e t t e r s u i t e d t o our p r e s e n t s t a t e o f knowledge^

o f d i f f e r e n t p h i l o s o p h i e s t h a n t h e one o f s u p e r f i c i a l ’

1 * f:

a nd h u r r i e d s i m i l a r i t i e s ^ • ;

1 Vi de Heimamie 1 a s t u d y i n c o n t r a s t * . h

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1 2

U i’ c: S3 <s

I. h a v e t h e r e f o r e made an i n d e p e n d e n t and c r i t i c a l s t u d y o f t h e Hindu view of c o n s c i o u s n e s s i n i t s i n d i v i d u a l and d i s t i n c t i v e t r a i t s a s found s c a t t e r e d i n Hindu t e x t s w i t h o u t t r y i n g t o p r e s e n t i t e i t h e r a s modern o r a s W estern * And i t h a s a l s o b e e n t r i e d so f a r a s p r a c t i c a b l e , t o p r e s e r v e

t h e Hindu m e t h o d o l o g i c a l fra m e o f d i s c u s s i o n f Samvadaf i n t h e f o r m u l a t i o n o f t h e s e p a r a t e i s s u e s * C e r t a i n f u n d a m e n t a l q u e s t i o n s r e g a r d i n g t h e n a t u r e of c o n s c i o u s n e s s w hich a r e i n t h e m s e l v e s n e i t h e r Hindu n o r a n c i e n t h a v e b e e n d i s c u s s e d i n t h e i r o r i g i n a l a t m o s p h e r e o f t h e Hindu e n v i r o n m e n t .

C o m p a r is o n s h a v e a t t h i s s t a g e b e e n d e l i b e r a t e l y a v o i d e d l e s t t h e y may u n n e c e s s a r i l y c l o u d i s s u e s a l r e a d y c o m p l i c a t e d and i n v o l v e d i n t h e u n f a m i l i a r s e t t i n g o f I n d i a n S c h o l a s t i c i s m ,

The aim t h e r e f o r e h a s b e e n t o p r e s e n t a. p i c t u r e o f t h e e s s e n t i a l l y and s o l e l y Hindu viev; o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s a l o n g w i t h t h e d i s t i n c t i v e f e a t u r e s w hich d i s t i n g u i s h i t

1 i n b r o a d r e l i e f w i t h i t s W e s te r n a l l y *

i. Examples will he found in the last chapter.

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13

A b r i e f S ta tem en t o f th e P ro b lem s-

What i s th e problem o f c o n s c io u s n e s s ? I s th e r e any

p rob lem a t a l l ? Such and o th e r s a r e th e q u e s t io n s w hich must be ask ed now. To u n d ersta n d th e n a tu r e and th e problem o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s , i t i s b e s t to b e g in w ith an a n a l y s i s o f th e n a tu r e o f. our d a i l y e x p e r ie n c e o f c o g n itio n * The f a c t o f a w a r e n e s s , i f we r e f l e c t , would be found to c o n s i s t o f a

number o f f a c t o r s w hich in v a r ia b ly p la y a par>t w henever th e r e i s any m a n if e s t a t io n o f c o g n it io n o r aw aren ess* These f a c t o r s a r e ( 1 ) th e o b j e c t s o f th e e x t e r n a l world !v i | a y a s f , ( 2 ) our e x t e r n a l s e n s e o r g a n s , ’ i n d r i y a s 1, ( 3 ) th e I n t e r n a l o rg a n , o r th e mind !Manasf w hich I s th e c o n n e c tin g l i n k betw een th e e x t e r n a l s e n s e s and th e c o g n is e r , and l a s t l y th e r e i s th e A gent o r th e C o g n iser Atman* who r e g a r d s h im s e lf a s th e knower, and to whom th e e n t i r e f l u x o f c o g n i t i o n s t h a t c o n s t i t u t e our m ental l i f e b e lo n g , and in whom th e y in h e r e a s a su p p ort o r substratum *

The above i s j u s t a common se n s e s ta te m e n t o f th e f a c t o r s in v o lv e d in our d a i l y c o g n i t i o n s . A l i t t l e more

r e f l e c t i o n w i l l show t h a t th e a g e n t o r th e 1 I f can be f u r t h e r s p l i t up in an a c t o f s e lf * * in t r o s p e c t io n in t o two s e lv e s *

The sta te m e n t * X know m y s e lf * , s u g g e s t s two c o g n i s e r s , th e c o g n is e r a s c o g n is e d , and th e c o g n is e r a s th e c o g n i s e r , and t h i s p r o c e s s o f f s e l f - s p l i t t i n g 1 can be c o n tin u e d at^

in fin itu m * One may, t h e r e f o r e , p o s i t two c o g n is e r s in s t e a d o f o n e . O ne?the e m p ir ic a l or th e p s y c h o lo g i c a l s e l f w hich

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1 4

a l t e r n a t e l y "becomes b o th th e s u b j e c t and th e o b j e c t o f

c o g n i t i o n , and th e o t h e r , ::• th e tr a n s c e n d e n ta l s u b j e c t , who i s never cau gh t in an a c t o f knowledge a s a ' k n o w n b u t which a lw a y s rem ains behind a s th e u lt im a t e knower and th e s u b j e c t o f a l l ou r c o g n i t i o n s . We have seen t h a t a w a ren ess in v o lv e s a d u a l i t y o f s u b j e c t and o b j e c t , b u t t h i s d u a l i t y d o e s n o t seem

t o fa v o u r th e c o g n i t io n o f th e c o g n is e r e x c e p t in th e u s u a l p s y c h o lo g ic a l way. The q u e s t io n , t h e r e f o r e , s u g g e s t s i t s e l f

i f t h i s d u a l i t y i s a perm anent f e a t u r e o f our c o n s c io u s n e s s * I s i t an u lt im a t e p r i n c i p l e o f a l l c o n s c io u s n e s s , a t a l l s t a g e s ’ in h e r e n t in i t s e s s e n t i a l n a tu r e o r th e r e i s an end t o i t

a t some s t a g e where th e s u b j e c t o r th e u nd u al c o n s c io u s n e s s a lo n e s h in e s in i t s own n a tu r e fS varu paf w ith o u t any o th e r o b j e c t a s e i t h e r q u a l i f y i n g or d e te r m in in g i t s n a tu re? In s h o r t , I s th e r e an u n d u a l, im m ediate, and d i s t i n c t i o n l e s s c o n s c io u s n e s s , w hich i s u n iv e r s a l and u n c h a n g in g , or a l l

c o n s c io u s n e s s i s a lw a y s o f d i s t i n c t i o n s , ch an gin g and p a r t i c u l a r in th e form o f ' t h i s i s t h i s ' . T his would be one o f th e

fu n d am en tal q u e s t io n s ab ou t th e n a tu r e o f c o n s c io u s n e s s * But ab ove a l l , what c o n s c io u s n e s s in i t s e l f is ? What i s f Samvi t 1 I , 'A n u b h u ti1 and 'u p a la b d h i' in i t s e l f ? I s i t th e 'gu na' o f one 'd ra v y a ' aIon e, o r i s i t i t s e l f a

* d ra v y a f ? What b r in g s ab ou t th e s i t u a t i o n o f a c o g n itio n ?

y .

I s i t a co m b in a tio n o f a l l th e f a c t o r s o f fv i s a y a f , 'in d r iy a * , 'M an as', and th e 'A tm an ', o r i s i t due to th e e t e r n a l and

e s s e n t i a l l y f c i t ' n a tu r e o n ly o f th e Atman? The p h y s ic a l

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15

body a l o n e [ c a n n o t be t h e p r i n c i p l e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s b e c a u s e c o n s c i o u s n e s s i s n o t f o u n d i n t h e d e a d body* No c o m b i n a t i o n

o f u n c o n s c i o u s n e s s c a n g e n e r a t e c o n s c i o u s n e s s * f o r i n

c o n s c i o u s n e s s * e v e r y b i t o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s m ust be c o n s c i o u s * even a s e v e r y m o l e c u l e o f m a t t e r i s m a t t e r * Nor ca n

' P r a n a ' be t h e p r i n c i p l e o f a w a r e n e s s , 1 f o r i n n u m e r a b l e l i v i n g b e i n g s i n whom l i f e b r e a t h i s f u n c t i o n i n g show no

s i g n o f a w a r e n e s s o r c o g n i t i o n * i s ' B u d d h i ' t h e c a u s e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s ? I f s o , what l a t h e fB u d d h i f i t s e l f ? I s i t i t s e l f a c o n s c i o u s o r a n u n c o n s c i o u s e n t i t y ? Does c o n s c i o u s n e s s b e l o n g t o i t by e s s e n c e a s h e a t t o f i r e * o r i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s o n l y a d v e n t i t i o u s t o i t a s t h e r e d c o l o u r i s t o a bak e d j a r * C ould i t n o t be t h a t t h e Buddhi t o o i s j u s t a n i n s t r u m e n t l i k e t h e body and t h e s e n s e o r g a n s ,

i n w h ic h c a s e , t h e q u a l i t y o f c o g n i t i o n d o e s n o t b e l o n g t o i t . I t may be o n l y a f i n e i n s t r u m e n t o f s u b t l e m a t t e r , w h i c h t h o u g h n o t i n i t s e l f c o n s c i o u s , y e t a s s u m e s p s y c h i c a l a n d c o n s c i o u s a t t r i b u t e s by r e a s o n o f i t s c a p a c i t y t o ta.ke a r e f l e c t i o n o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s .

Again* i s Atman* t h e n , c o n s c i o u s n e s s ? I s t h e r e no d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e two? ^ t h e = Atman and t h e c o n s c i o u s n e s s , o r I s c o n s c i o u s n e s s o n l y t h e q u a l i t y

' g u n a 1 and n o t t h e ' s v a b h a v a ' ^ e s s e n c e o f i t ? I s c o n s c i o u s n e s s s e l f - l u m i n o u s o r n o n - l u m i n o u s ? I s i t

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e t e r n a l and u n p r o d u c e d , i n a c t i v e and u n m o d i f l a b l e , o r i s i t p r o d u c e d , c h a n g i n g , dynamic and m o d i f i a b l e ?

And l a s t l y , what i s U n c o n s c i o u s n e s s and how a r e t h e two o p p o s i t e s o f : t h e ! c i t f and t h e fa c i t f

r e l a t e d ? A re thei>e i n r e a l i t y , two s u b s t a n c e s , one p e r m a n e n t l y c o n s c i o u s , and t h e o t h e r p e r m a n e n t l y

u n c o n s c i o u s , o r i s t h e r e o n l y one s u b s t a n c e , f c i t ' o r fa c i t f w h ic h m o d i f i e s i t s e l f i n t o i t s o p p o s i t e . I f t h e r e a r e two a b s o l u t e l y o p p o s i t e s u b s t a n c e s , w i t h n o t h i n g In common b e tw e e n them, how c a n t h e y a t

a l l come t o g e t h e r ? I f t h e r e i s o n l y one s u b s t a n c e c o n s c i o u s o r u n c o n s c i o u s , d i f f i c u l t i e s a r i s e w i t h

r e g a r d t o t h e o r i g i n o f t h e one from t h e o t h e r , f o r , i n a c t u a l e x p e r i e n c e we f i n d b o t h c o n s c i o u s n e s s and u n c o n s c i o u s n e s s , s u b j e c t and o b j e c t , f o r m i n g p a r t

o f one w h o l e . Such a r e some o f t h e p r o b l e m s

c o n c e r n i n g c o n s c i o u s n e s s whose s o l u t i o n a s a t t e m p t e d i n t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f t h e Hindu t h i n k e r s , i s s o u g h t t o be d i s c o v e r e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g p a g e s .

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17

The Scope cf t h e En q u i r y ; ^

A word s h o u l d he a dde d h e r e a b o u t t h e scope and t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f t h e p r e s e n t s t u d y * The p r e s e n t e n q u i r y i n t o t h e n a t u r e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s i s r e s t r i c t e d p u r e l y t o a l o g i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f m e t a p h y s i c a l n a t u r e and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s

o f w hat c o n s c i o u s n e s s i n i t s e l f i s . Thus t h e s u b j e c t m a t t e r o f t h e e n q u i r y i s t h e n a t u r e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s and t h e v i e w - p o i n t i s m e t a p h y s i c a l f and th o u g h t h e p r o b le m h a s b e e n t a c k l e d i n

d i f f e r e n t c o n n e c t i o n s from i t s v a r i o u s a s p e c t s , t h e v i e w p o i n t ha b e e n t h r o u g h o u t t h e a s c e r t a i n m e n t o f t h e u l t i m a t e n a t u r e o f

c o n s c i o u s n e s s *

T h i s e n q u i r y i n t o t h e n a t u r e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s , s h o u ld n o t , h o w e v e r , b e . c o n f u s e d w i t h a l l i e d q u e s t i o n s , w hich t h o u g h

r e l a t e d t o i t ^ h a v e y e t b e e n t r e a t e d a s d i s t i n c t and s e p a r a t e , f o r f e a r , n o t o n l y o f t h e t o o much w id e n i n g o f t h e sc o p e of t h e p r e s e n t e n q u i r y , b u t a l s o i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e

c l a r i t y o f t h e i s s u e s i n v o l v e d * The p r o b l e m o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s , f o r i n s t a n c e , i s s e p a r a t e from a s i m i l a r p r o b l e m o f t h e

t h e o r i e s o f k n o w le d g e , t h e means o f p r o o f , o r l a s t l y , o f th e t h e o r i e s o f t r u t h and e r r o r , e a c h one o f w h ic h i s by i t s e l f a s e p a r a t e i s s u e , and s h o u l d be t r e a t e d a s such® I t d o e s n o t mean t h a t t h e r e c a n u l t i m a t e l y be made a n y r i g i d

s e p a r a t i o n o f t h e s e p r o b l e m s from one a n o t h e r , b u t o n ly ,

t h a t t h e p r e s e n t work i s o c c u p i e d m e r e l y w i t h t h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e n a t u r e of c o n s c i o u s n e s s a s such®

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G-mECER I I .If i t .C1.H >

THE- ffi'B-SYSTEM ATIC AND A S E M I-P H IIO S O IH IG A Ii BACKGROUND

(31)

1 8

The Cosmic n a tu r e o f th e p r e - u p a n is a d i o e n q u ir y ;

Our e n q u ir y on th e u l t i m a t e l y m e t a p h y s i c a l n a tu r e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s p e r t a i n s t o th e s u b j e c t i v e f i e l d o f an i n t r o s p e c t i v e r e f l e c t i o n on what man w i t h i n h i s o w n s e l f

e s s e n t i a l l y i s * i t i s o n l y w i t h i n h i s own i n n e r and s u b j e c t i v e b e in g t h a t a man i s fjfcrst aware o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s d i r e c t l y

and most im m e d ia te ly * Q u e s tio n s l i k e * Ih a t i s c o n s c i o u s n e s s ? , * and * lh y am I c o n s c i o u s ? *, p resu p p o se a d i s t i n c t i o n a lr e a d y a c q u ir e d b etw een a co n scio u s- and an u n c o n s c io u s e x i s t e n c e , and b etw een a p u r e l y p h y s i c a l and u n r e f l e e t i v e b e i n g and a

p s y c h i c a l and r e f l e c t i v e , f u n c t i o n i n g * And though c o n s c i o u s ­ n e s s i s p r i o r t o r e f l e c t i o n , and d o es n o t w a i t f o r i t s

p r o d u c t io n t i l l i t i s r e f l e c t e d upon, y e t th e r e f l e c t i v e s t a g e n e c e s s a r i l y cornea letter*

F a n , i n h i s i n t e l l e c t u a l s e a r c h f o r th e n a tu r e o f R e a l i t y sta r ts* w ith th e co n q u e st o f th e o u t s i d e f i r s t , f o r a s d e c l a r e d i n K atha. U p an isad , man t o b e g i n w ith , l o o k s

1*

outward f i r s t b e c a u s e h i s sen ses: are o u tg o in g * Xt i s o n l y i n th e sec o n d s t a g e o f h i s e n q u ir y t h a t he comes b a c k from th e o u t s i d e to th e i n s i d e * Thus, e a r l y th o u g h t s o f man Viiere n a t u r a l l y cosm ic* H is s e n s e s ‘went o u t , peep ed i n t o th e

1* Katha* Up* 4* 1* tP a r a n c ik h a n i v y a t r n a i svayumbhus, tasm at p a ra n £ p a a y a t i nantaratman* *

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.19

s u r r o u n d i n g v a s t n e s s 5 w i t h h u m b l e n e s s y and 'b e w ild e rm e n t s a nd w o n d e r e d a b o u t t h e mystery, o f p l a n e t s and s e a s o n s * i n f a c t a b o u t e v e r y t h i n g t h a t was. more p o w e r f u l t h a n . , h i m s e l f and ' i n f l u e n e e d h i s l i f e *. He h a r d l y * a t t h i s h e a r l y s t a g e * loolced i n s i d e o r w o n d e r e d a t h i s own s e l f t i l l m u c h . l a t e r * when t h e d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e e x t e r n a and t h e i n t e r n a l o r b e tw e e n t h e p h y s i c a l and t h e p s y c h i c a l

came t o be .drawn? . • i

I he e a r l i e s t e n q u i r y was t h e r e f o r e * a b o u t th e , n a t u r e o f t h e u n i v e r s e a s a w hole y - a n i m a t e and inanimate;* . and i t s sc o p e was n o t y e t l i m i t e d t o an y s p e c i a l f e a t u r e o f t h e u n i v e r s e * I n t h e E g v e d i e p e r i o d where a t m o s p h e r e y m i n e r a l s * p l a n t and b e a s t a r e no l e s s r e a l and a l i v e t h a n men* it- i s i n e v i t a b l e t h a t e n q u i r y m i g h t be d i r e c t e d

t o w a r d t h e d i s c o v e r y o f t h e e s s e n c e o f a l l o f them* o r o f any one o f ’them* r a t h e r t h a n o f any one o f them i n

p a r t i c u l a r . ■ \ n u-y.

I t i s one o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f I n d i a n t h o u g h t t h a t a t e v e r y s t e p y i t t h i n l c s o f r e a l i t y a s a whole and a s a c o m p le te , c o s m o s I t d o e s n o t d i v i d e r e a l i t y by ai a n a l y s i s o f i t i n t o w a t e r - t i g h t c o m p a r tm e n ts * A c c o r d i n g lo^

t h i s cosm ic a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s r e a l i t y * e v e r y t h i n g i s a

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This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C o d e M icroform Edition © ProQuest LLC.. ProQuest

This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States C o d e M icroform Edition © ProQuest LLC.. ProQuest

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