Homework #2, Question 1

1) According to Sankhya Philosophy, explain Purusha and Prakriti.

Sankhya philosophy is the third philosophical system to arise in the Indian Vedic Philosophical system. Purusha and Prakriti are dual, separate elements that compose the universe. Simply, Purusha refers to soul or spirit, it is supreme consciousness, free, unknowable, it is the True, Ultimate reality. Prakriti references physical matter from which all other principles emerge: through Prakriti come intellect, ego, mind, the five organs of knowledge, the five organs of action, the five subtle elements, and the five gross elements. The energy of the three gunas exists within all of these. In this system, spirit (Purusha) takes on a physical body (Prakriti) and then it is discarded. The body is seen as limiting and confining and enlightenment takes place when one can realize that one is not Prakriti-- that believing this to be true is an illusion; the real nature of reality is Purusha. One must wake up to see the truth.