Sāṅkhya Philosophy and Modern Science

Sahkhya Philosophy and Modern Science

DR. SINGH. Srila Prabhupada, may we hear a little bit about Sahkhya philosophy?

SRĪLA PRABHUPADA. There are actually two kinds of Sahkhya philosophy: the ancient Sahkhya philosophy originally taught by Lord Kapiladeva, and the modern Sahkhya philosophy taught more recently by the atheist Kapila. Lord Kapila's Sahkhya explains how to become detached from matter and search out Lord Visnu within the heart. This Sahkhya is actually a process of devotional service. But the modern Sahkhya philosophy simply analyzes the material world into its various elements. In that respect, it is just like modern scientific research. Sahkhya means "to count." We are also Sahkhya philosophers to some extent because we count the material elements: this is land, this is water, this is fire, this is air, this is ether. Furthermore, I can count my mind, my intelligence and my ego. Beyond my ego, however, I cannot count. But Krsna says that there is something beyond the ego, and that is the living force. This is what scientists do not know. They think that life is merely a combination of material elements, but Krsna denies this in the Bhagavad-gita [7.5]:

apareyam itas tv anyam

prakrtim viddhi me param

jiva-bhūtam maha-baho

yayedam dharyate jagat

"Besides this inferior nature [earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego] there is a superior energy of Mine, which consists of all the living entities who are struggling with material nature and sustaining the universe."

DR. SINGH. Are both the inferior and the superior energies studied in modern Sahkhya philosophy?

SRĪLA PRABHUPADA. No. Modern Sahkhya philosophers do not study the superior energy. They simply analyze the material elements, just as the scientists are doing. The scientists do not know that there is spirit soul, nor do the Sahkhya philosophers.

DR. SINGH. They are analyzing the creative material elements?

SRĪLA PRABHUPADA. The material elements are not creative! Only the soul is creative. Life cannot be created from matter, and matter cannot create itself. You, a living entity, can mix hydrogen and oxygen to create water. But matter itself has no creative potency. If you place a bottle of hydrogen near a bottle of oxygen, will they automatically combine, without your help?

DR. SINGH. No. They must be mixed.

SRĪLA PRABHUPADA. Of course. Oxygen and hydrogen are Krsna's inferior energy, but when you, the superior energy, mix them, then they can become water.

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