Guest guest Posted September 1, 1999 Report Share Posted September 1, 1999 It is interesting to compare the spiritual teachings of various prophets from different ages. One of the most ancient prophets of India is Sage Kapila. He is perhaps the first one to make a clear distinction between 'spirit' and 'matter'. He used the word 'Purusha' which later evolved into the idea of the 'Self' as being distinct from the rest of 'Nature' or 'Prakriti' - the term he used. This was perhaps the first major step in the evolution of spiritual ideas. jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 1999 Report Share Posted September 1, 1999 Jay, would you be able to put something in perspective for me? i have heard it said that one of the main differences between western and eastern philosophy is that the western makes a clear distinction between " soul or spirit " and " matter " , whereas the eastern does not make as much of a distinction. could you elaborate on this? In this quote it does seem quite a clear difference! Karen Vivekananda Centre wrote: > " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda > > It is interesting to compare the spiritual teachings of various prophets > from different ages. One of the most ancient prophets of India is Sage > Kapila. He is perhaps the first one to make a clear distinction between > 'spirit' and 'matter'. He used the word 'Purusha' which later evolved into > the idea of the 'Self' as being distinct from the rest of 'Nature' or > 'Prakriti' - the term he used. This was perhaps the first major step in the > evolution of spiritual ideas. > > jay > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > You can WIN $100 to Amazon.com by starting a new list at ONElist. > Drawing is held each week through September 17. For details go to: > <a href= " http://clickme./ad/Teaser116 " >Click Here</a> > > ------ > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 1999 Report Share Posted September 1, 1999 Karen wrote> >Westend Ashram at Colorado Springs <urbanashram > >Jay, > >would you be able to put something in perspective for me? >i have heard it said that one of the main differences between western >and eastern philosophy is that the western makes a clear distinction >between " soul or spirit " and " matter " , whereas the eastern does not >make as much of a distinction. could you elaborate on this? In this >quote it does seem quite a clear difference! > >Karen > >Vivekananda Centre wrote: > >> " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda >> >> It is interesting to compare the spiritual teachings of various prophets >> from different ages. One of the most ancient prophets of India is Sage >> Kapila. He is perhaps the first one to make a clear distinction between >> 'spirit' and 'matter'. He used the word 'Purusha' which later evolved into >> the idea of the 'Self' as being distinct from the rest of 'Nature' or >> 'Prakriti' - the term he used. This was perhaps the first major step in the >> evolution of spiritual ideas. >> >> jay >> ============ Reply: Eastern and Western ideas about 'spirit' as distinct from 'matter' are not that far apart. The philosophy of Samkhya which forms the foundation for both the other schools of philosophies - Yoga and Vedanta; goes something like this:- Everything in the universe including the:- Body - (purely physical) Senses - (that which takes messages from the gross physical to the mental realm) Mind - (the instrument of 'perception') Intellect - (the determining faculty necessary to grasp what the mind perceives) All these are nothing but various levels of manifestation of just one thing called 'Prana' The nearest word we have to explain this Prana is energy. It is interesting that Indian thinking has always said that 'matter' is a manifestation of energy. It says that even the intellect which seems to be far more 'spiritual' than 'material' is just a more subtle manifestation of the same thing 'prana or energy'. Upto now what we have is something very similar to the ideas of today's 'pantheism' movement'. In Samkhya the point of departure takes place with the idea of 'Purusha' or 'Self' which is considered to be quite different from 'prana' manifesting as everything (called prakriti). The aim of Samkhya is to separate the 'purusha from prakriti'. Major ambiguity remained - What is the relationship between 'purusha' and 'prakriti'? How can they interact if they are so different from each other? They are both so distinct - so what is the field in which they interact? These are very subtle questions -- the answer comes with Vedanta. Hope this helps. jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 1999 Report Share Posted September 2, 1999 Thanks Jay. :-) -K Vivekananda Centre wrote: > " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda > > Karen wrote> > > >Westend Ashram at Colorado Springs <urbanashram > > > >Jay, > > > >would you be able to put something in perspective for me? > >i have heard it said that one of the main differences between western > >and eastern philosophy is that the western makes a clear distinction > >between " soul or spirit " and " matter " , whereas the eastern does not > >make as much of a distinction. could you elaborate on this? In this > >quote it does seem quite a clear difference! > > > >Karen > > > >Vivekananda Centre wrote: > > > >> " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda > >> > >> It is interesting to compare the spiritual teachings of various prophets > >> from different ages. One of the most ancient prophets of India is Sage > >> Kapila. He is perhaps the first one to make a clear distinction between > >> 'spirit' and 'matter'. He used the word 'Purusha' which later evolved > into > >> the idea of the 'Self' as being distinct from the rest of 'Nature' or > >> 'Prakriti' - the term he used. This was perhaps the first major step in > the > >> evolution of spiritual ideas. > >> > >> jay > >> > ============ > > Reply: > > Eastern and Western ideas about 'spirit' as distinct from 'matter' are not > that far apart. > > The philosophy of Samkhya which forms the foundation for both the other > schools of philosophies - Yoga and Vedanta; goes something like this:- > > Everything in the universe including the:- > > Body - (purely physical) > > Senses - (that which takes messages from the gross physical to the mental > realm) > > Mind - (the instrument of 'perception') > > Intellect - (the determining faculty necessary to grasp what the mind > perceives) > > All these are nothing but various levels of manifestation of just one thing > called 'Prana' > The nearest word we have to explain this Prana is energy. It is interesting > that Indian thinking has always said that 'matter' is a manifestation of > energy. It says that even the intellect which seems to be far more > 'spiritual' than 'material' is just a more subtle manifestation of the same > thing 'prana or energy'. Upto now what we have is something very similar to > the ideas of today's 'pantheism' movement'. > > In Samkhya the point of departure takes place with the idea of 'Purusha' or > 'Self' which is considered to be quite different from 'prana' manifesting as > everything (called prakriti). The aim of Samkhya is to separate the 'purusha > from prakriti'. Major ambiguity remained - What is the relationship between > 'purusha' and 'prakriti'? How can they interact if they are so different > from each other? They are both so distinct - so what is the field in which > they interact? These are very subtle questions -- the answer comes with > Vedanta. > > Hope this helps. > jay > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- > > ONElist announces " FRIENDS & FAMILY! " > For details, including our weekly drawing, go to > /info/onereachsplash3.html > > ------ > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 1999 Report Share Posted September 2, 1999 Hello friends, Hello, In this connection I would suggest reading Swami Vivekananda's lectures in his Complete Works, Vol. II, Page 432 to 462. The Three lectures are 1) Cosmology, 2) A study of Sankhya Philosophy, 3) Sankhya and Vedanta. Dr. C. S. Shah -------------------------- Vivekananda Centre wrote: > > " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda > > Karen wrote> > > >Westend Ashram at Colorado Springs <urbanashram -- ==================================== E-magazine on science and spirituality. Visit: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/1704/index.html http://members.xoom.com/drcsshah/neovedanta/index.html ==================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 1999 Report Share Posted September 2, 1999 > ---------- > Vivekananda Centre[sMTP:vivekananda] > Reply Ramakrishna > Wednesday, September 01, 1999 10:49 PM > Ramakrishna > Re: [ramakrishna] Prophets old and new > > " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda > > Karen wrote> > > >Westend Ashram at Colorado Springs <urbanashram > > > >Jay, > > > >would you be able to put something in perspective for me? > >i have heard it said that one of the main differences between western > >and eastern philosophy is that the western makes a clear distinction > >between " soul or spirit " and " matter " , whereas the eastern does not > >make as much of a distinction. could you elaborate on this? In this > >quote it does seem quite a clear difference! > > > >Karen > > > >Vivekananda Centre wrote: > > > >> " Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda > >> > >> It is interesting to compare the spiritual teachings of various > prophets > >> from different ages. One of the most ancient prophets of India is > Sage > >> Kapila. He is perhaps the first one to make a clear distinction > between > >> 'spirit' and 'matter'. He used the word 'Purusha' which later > evolved > into > >> the idea of the 'Self' as being distinct from the rest of 'Nature' > or > >> 'Prakriti' - the term he used. This was perhaps the first major > step in > the > >> evolution of spiritual ideas. > >> > >> jay > >> > ============ > > Reply: > > Eastern and Western ideas about 'spirit' as distinct from 'matter' are > not > that far apart. > > The philosophy of Samkhya which forms the foundation for both the > other > schools of philosophies - Yoga and Vedanta; goes something like this:- > > Everything in the universe including the:- > > Body - (purely physical) > > Senses - (that which takes messages from the gross physical to the > mental > realm) > > Mind - (the instrument of 'perception') > > Intellect - (the determining faculty necessary to grasp what the mind > perceives) > > All these are nothing but various levels of manifestation of just one > thing > called 'Prana' > The nearest word we have to explain this Prana is energy. It is > interesting > that Indian thinking has always said that 'matter' is a manifestation > of > energy. It says that even the intellect which seems to be far more > 'spiritual' than 'material' is just a more subtle manifestation of the > same > thing 'prana or energy'. Upto now what we have is something very > similar to > the ideas of today's 'pantheism' movement'. > > In Samkhya the point of departure takes place with the idea of > 'Purusha' or > 'Self' which is considered to be quite different from 'prana' > manifesting as > everything (called prakriti). The aim of Samkhya is to separate the > 'purusha > from prakriti'. Major ambiguity remained - What is the relationship > between > 'purusha' and 'prakriti'? How can they interact if they are so > different > from each other? They are both so distinct - so what is the field in > which > they interact? These are very subtle questions -- the answer comes > with > Vedanta. > > Hope this helps. > jay > > > > > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor > ---------------------------- > > ONElist announces " FRIENDS & FAMILY! " > For details, including our weekly drawing, go to > /info/onereachsplash3.html > > ---- > -- > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ > > Taking that Purusha and prakriti are within the individual, Is it > 'Chith Jada Grandhi " that links both? Can any body throow light on > this? Can we identify purusha and prakriti with sentient and > insentient aspects of the individual? > > Ramana Sarma > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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