The purpose of non-theistic devotion in the classical Indian tradition of Sām khya-Yoga

• Authors: Jakubczak Marzenna
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The paper starts with some textual distinctions concerning the concept of God in the metaphysical framework of two classical schools of Hindu philosophy, Sāṃkhya and Yoga. Then the author focuses on the functional and pedagogical aspects of prayer as well as practical justification of “religious meditation” in both philosophical schools. A special attention is put on the practice called īśvarapraṇidhāna, recommended in Yoga school, which is interpreted by the author as a form of non-theistic devotion. The meaning of the central object of this concentration, that is puruṣa-viśeṣa, is reconsidered in detail. The subject matter is discussed in the wider context of yogic self-discipline that enables a practitioner to overcome ignorance ( avidyā) and the narrowness of egotic perspective ( asmitā), recognized in the Hindu darśanas as the root-cause of all suffering or never-fulfilled-satisfaction ( duḥkha). The non-the¬istic devotion and spiritual pragmatism assumed by the adherents of Sāṃkhya-Yoga redefines the concept of “God” ( īśvara) as primarily an object of meditative practice and a special tool convenient for spiritual pedagogy.

Keywords

EN

Indian philosophy; non-theism; atheism; religious practice; meditation; iśvara; svabhavika; Samkhya; Yoga; God in Yoga

PL

filozofia indyjska; nie-teizm; ateizm; praktyka religijna; medytacja; īśvara; bóg w jodze; svābhāvika; sankhja; joga

• Publisher: Uniwersytet Pedagogiczny im. KEN w Krakowie, Instytut Filozofii i Socjologii
• Journal: ARGUMENT: Biannual Philosophical Journal
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 55-68

Dates

published

2014

Contributors

author

Jakubczak Marzenna

• Pedagogical University of Cracow