Understanding Universe and Life – Samkhya Philosophy- 3
(please refer to http://www.omdasji.blogspot.in/2013/01/map-of-creation-samkhya-philosophy-flow.html)
Prakriti is the power and material from which the entire cosmos is created. Purusha gives the consciousness or awareness to the creation. Prakruti creates all forms in the Universe, while Purusha is the witness to this creation. Prakriti is primordial physical energy containing the three attributes, or gunas, found in all nature, the evolving cosmos.
The first manifestation from Prakruti is Cosmic Intellect - Mahad or Buddhi. From Mahad, ego is formed. Ego (Ahamkar) then manifests into the five senses (tanmatras) and the five motor organs, with the help of satva, thus creating the organic universe. The same Ego further manifests into the five basic elements (bhutas) with the help of tamas, to create the inorganic universe.
Rajas is the active vital life force in the body which moves both the organic and inorganic universes to satva and tamas, respectively. So satva and tamas are inactive, potential energies which need the active, kinetic force of rajas. In Hinduism, the functions of energies are given names: Satva -creative potential is Brahma; Rajas - kinetic protective force is Vishnu; and Tamas - potential destructice force is Mahesha or Shiva. Creation (Brahma), Protection (Vishnu) and Destruction (Mahesha) are the three manifestations of the first cosmic soundless sound, Aum (Om), which are constantly operating in the Universe.
MAHAT
Though the Purusha and Prakriti are separate, they have eternal attraction and love for each other. Through their union is born Mahat – the Universal Intelligence. The carrier for Mahat is Prana. Prana is the vital breath or the life force. The main Prana Vayus or currents in the body are : Prana, Apana, Samana, Udhana and Vayana.
Mahat is Supreme Intelligence which appears to us in form of divine grace and intuition. Cosmic intelligence, or Mahat, works through each individual by way of Prana and produces Buddhi. Buddhi is individualized, creative cosmic intelligence that helps us in knowing, understanding and discerning knowledge.When the flow of Prana through the individual is undisturbed, then the Buddhi is aligned with Mahat and permits an undisturbed flow of intuition and right perception. When the individual’s Prana is agitated or disturbed the Buddhi becomes distorted. This leads to blocking of intuition and understanding. Hence our understanding gets skewered and we perceive the right events in a wrong manner and create confusion within self.
AHAMAKARA
The soul which is a part of the Purusha is encased in this human body. In order for Purusha to experience itself, it had to separate itself from its own true nature and be identified with matter or body. Such separation happens through the Ahamkara (‘I-Creator’).
The Ahamkara, or ego, is the force which provides us with our individuality and self-identification. It is individualized awareness of being one with body and identifying with the limited world. The ego causes us to act as per our desires and selfish demands creating karma and cycles of karma which can be overcome through circles of rebirth and death. The ego helps us to survive and thrive in this world and overcome all shortcomings and drawbacks in the path of our progress. It also creates barriers between man and man and makes one feel superior to the other. This creates stress, tensions, enmity, vengeance and wars. Man kills man and blood is shed.
( Contd in blog 4........)
