six types of

The six philosophical treatises are: (1) vaisesika, propounded by Kanada Rsi, (2) nyaya, propounded by Gautama Rsi, (3) yoga or mysticism, propounded by Patanjali Rsi, (4) the philosophy of saṅkhya, propounded by Kapila Rsi, (5) the philosophy of karma-mimamsa, propounded by Jaimini Rsi, and (6) the philosophy of brahma-mimamsa, or Vedanta, the ultimate conclusion of the Absolute Truth (janmady asya yatah), propounded by Vedavyasa. Actually Vedanta philosophy is meant for the devotees because in Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna says, vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham: "I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas." (Bg. 15.15) Vyasadeva is an incarnation of Krsna, and consequently Krsna is the compiler of Vedanta philosophy. Therefore Krsna clearly knows the purport of Vedanta philosophy. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, whoever hears Vedanta philosophy from Krsna is actually aware of the real meaning of Vedanta. The Mayavadis who have called themselves Vedantists do not at all understand the purport of Vedanta philosophy. Not being properly educated, people in general think that Vedanta means the Saṅkarite interpretation.    (More...)

The Lord therefore gave the direct meaning of the Vedanta Sutra. No Vedic Scripture can be used for indirect speculation; not only Sankara, but other materialistic philosophers like Kapila, Gautama, Astavakra, Patanjali -every one of them has tried to put forward philosophical speculations in a different way. The philosopher Jaimina and his other followers, who are all more or less logicians, have given up the real meaning of the Vedas, devotional service, and have tried to establish the Absolute Truth as subject to the material world. It is their opinion that if we do our material activities nicely, then if there is any God He will be pleased and give us the desired result. Similarly, the atheist Kapila has tried to establish that there is no God Who is the Creator of this material world. But he (Kapila) has analyzed the material world's elements and their combination as the cause of creation. He has tried to establish this. Similarly, Gautama and Kanad have given stress to the material elements, and have tried to establish that atomic energy is the origin of creation. Similarly, the impersonalists and monists like Astavakra have tried to establish the impersonal effulgence of the Brahmajyoti as the Supreme. Similarly, Patanjali, one of the greatest authorities on the Yoga system, has tried to conceive an imaginary Form of the Supreme Lord.    (More...)

To summarize their philosophy, it is understood that all these materialistic philosophers have tried to avoid the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as they wanted to put forward their own mentally concocted philosophies. But Vyasadeva, the learned sage and incarnation of Godhead, has thoroughly studied all these philosophical speculations of different sages; and to answer all of them he has compiled the Vedanta Sutra, which simply indicates the relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, execution of devotional service, and ultimate achievement of love of Godhead. In the very beginning of the Vedanta Sutra, the verse Janmadyasa yata appears and is explained in his Srimad Bhagwatam in which Vyasa establishes at the very beginning that the Supreme Source of everything is a cognizant, Transcendental Person.    (More...)

The impersonalist tries to explain that the impersonal effulgence of the Supreme Lord, or Brahmajyoti, is beyond these material modes of Nature, but at the same time he wants to establish the Supreme Personality of Godhead as contaminated by the modes of material Nature. The Vedanta Sutra establishes that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not only transcendental to the material modes of nature, but also that He has innumerable transcendental qualities and energies. All these speculative'philosophers are one in denying the existence of the Supreme Lord Vishnu, and they are very much enthused to put forward their own theories to be recognized by the people. Unfortunate persons become enamoured of these atheistic philosophers, and thus they can never understand the real nature of the Absolute Truth. It is better for them, therefore, to follow in the footsteps of great souls who are called Mahajans. According to Srimad Bhagwatam there are twelve Mahajans or great souls. They are: 1. Brahma, 2. Lord Shiva, 3. Narada, 4. Vaivasvata Manu, 5. Kapila (not the atheist, but the original Kapila), 6. the Kumaras, 7. Prahlada, 8. Bhisma, 9. Janaka, 10. Bali, 11. Sukadeva Goswami, 12. Yamaraj.    (More...)