Samkhya and Yoga are two of the oldest and most influential systems of classical Indian philosophy. This book provides a thorough analysis of the systems in order to fully understand Indian philosophy. Placing particular emphasis on the metaphysical schema which underlies both concepts, the author adeptly develops a new interpretation of the standard views on Samkhya and Yoga.

Drawing upon existing sources and using insights from both Eastern and Western philosophy and religious practice, this comprehensive interpretation is respectful to the underlying spiritual purpose of the Indian systems. It serves to illuminate the relation between the theoretical and practical dimensions of Samkhya and Yoga. The book fills a gap in current scholarship and will be of interest to those concerned with Indology as well as philosophies in general and their similarities and differences with other traditions.

Contents

Introduction 1. An Historical Overview of Samkhya and Yoga 2. The Relation between the Two Darsanas 3. Analysing Experience: Kantian and Phenomenological Philosophy 4. The Imputation of Realism 5. The Nature of Prakrti 6. The Emergence of the Manifest Principles 7. Freedom from Experience 8. Conclusion. Appendix A: The Text of the Samkhyakarika. Appendix B: Diagrammatic Representation of Classical Samkhya’s Metaphysical Schema. Glossary of Key Sanskrit Terms. Notes

Author Bio

Mikel Burley received his PhD in Indian philosophy from the University of Bristol, and currently teaches in the School of Philosophy at the University of Leeds. His previous publications include Hatha-Yoga: Its Context, Theory and Practice and numerous articles on both Western and Indian philosophy.