The Darshanas of Samkhya & Advaita Vedanta
Yoga is an ancient system with myriad pathways toward Self-Realization, and the underlying philosophy of those paths also includes various perspectives (called darshanas) about the nature of reality and its relationship with spirituality.
Understanding different schools of Indian philosophy, or darshanas, is helpful for two key reasons. First, as we practice yoga and draw on tools and practices from various traditions or margas (paths of yoga), it’s useful to understand the intention behind these practices. Second, as we engage with the world beyond the yoga mat, these different philosophical worldviews offer some insights and perspectives on how we might perceive and interact within the world and within ourselves.
Out of the six major darshanas, in this post, we'll explore two schools of Indian philosophy: Samkhya and Advaita Vedanta. We'll start with Samkhya, which is a dualistic philosophy, and then move on to Advaita Vedanta, which offers a non-dualistic perspective.
Samkhya Philosophy: Dualism of Prakriti and Purusha
Samkhya philosophy is considered dualistic because it describes the universe as consisting of two separate and distinct elements: Prakriti (the material world) and Purusha (the Divine or the unchanging consciousness). Both Prakriti and Purusha are real, but they are separate and distinct. Let’s take a closer look at each.
Prakriti refers to everything in existence that can be observed — whether seen, heard, felt, or touched. This includes all material things, both inside and outside of us: our physical body, our thoughts, emotions, and even our energy. Prakriti encompasses everything that is subject to change and transformation (Parinima). Some examples are thoughts, emotions, hopes, fears, and of course, physical objects.
Purusha, by contrast, represents the unchanging, pure consciousness, or the eternal essence that animates everything in the material world. It’s the divine spark, the life force that exists beyond the physical realm. Purusha is sometimes described as the infinite, permanent, or unchanging essence, which can’t fully be expressed in words. In essence, Purusha is often equated with God, the spirit, or the soul of all existence.
Yoga: Disentangling Prakriti and Purusha
In Samkhya philosophy, yoga is the practice of disentangling Prakriti from Purusha. Because Prakriti (the material world) is constantly changing and transient, it can obscure our ability to perceive the true, unchanging nature of Purusha (the Divine essence). In systems such as Raja Yoga (the Yoga of meditation), we aim to quiet the mind, still the body, and separate the distractions of Prakriti so that we can experience Purusha, the divine soul.
This process is central to Raja Yoga, as described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. In this practice, we aim to create stillness and peace within our bodies, minds, thoughts, and emotions, so that one can connect with the Divine and experience the true essence of Purusha.
Advaita Vedanta: Non-Dualism
In contrast to the dualistic worldview of Samkhya, Advaita Vedanta offers a non-dual perspective, which teaches that Prakriti and Purusha are not separate but are, in fact, one and the same. In this philosophy, everything that can be seen, touched, or observed is inherently Divine. In other words, all of existence is already sacred.
But if everything that is manifest is already divine, how does one go about experiencing Yoga, or "union" with the divine?
In Advaita Vedanta, yoga is not about disentangling Prakriti from Purusha, since they are understood to be inseparable. Rather, yoga in this non-dual perspective is the practice of dissolving the illusion of separateness. If everything is Divine, then the sense of separation is the root of suffering. Yoga, therefore, becomes the process of realizing that our individual self is not separate from the whole of reality.
Through this practice, we dissolve the perception of separateness and experience the unity of Prakriti and Purusha. This is the essence of self-realization: realizing that the Divine is not something separate from us, but rather, is the very essence of all that exists.
Yoga in the Non-Dual Perspective
In a non-dual worldview like Advaita Vedanta, yoga becomes a process of recognizing and experiencing the unity between the individual self and the universe. It’s not about connecting with something outside of ourselves, because we are already inherently connected to the Divine. Instead, yoga in this context involves dissolving the perception of separateness and merging into the oneness of all that exists.
Comparing Samkhya and Advaita Vedanta in the Context of Yoga
These two cosmologies — the dualism of Samkhya and the non-dualism of Advaita Vedanta — inform different approaches to yoga.
In Samkhya, as we’ve seen, the practice is about quieting the disturbances of Prakriti (the material world) so that we can experience the unchanging nature of Purusha. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, for example, reflect this dualistic view, where the goal is to create stillness in the mind and body in order to experience the divine essence.
By comparison, schools like Tantra and Hatha Yoga follow a non-dual perspective, aligning more with Advaita Vedanta. In these traditions, the body and mind are not seen as an obstacle, but rather as a vessel for realizing the divine within. The practices focus on dissolving the illusion of separation and embodying the divine, recognizing that the material and the spiritual are one and the same.
About the Author:
Jason Wright
Jason has been an educator for over 20 years and is passionate about the wisdom and transformational power of Yoga. Jason facilitates 200hr Yoga Teacher Trainings in Sydney, Australia, specializing in Yoga history and philosophy. As a lifelong learner himself, he has completed trainings all over the world including 18 months of full-time Yoga studies in college. If you would like to learn more, Jason has published several online courses about Yoga Philosophy which can be found at: www.flowcollectiveyoga.com/courses
Comments