All questions of Indian Schools of Philosophy for BPSC (Bihar) Exam

Yama - Practicing self-control Niyama - Observation of the rules governing one's life Pratyahara - Choosing an object Dharna - Fixing the mind (over the chosen object) Dhyana - Concentrating on the (abovementioned) chosen object Samadhi - It is the merging of the mind and the object that leads to the final dissolution of the self

Nyaya School: As the name of the school suggests, they believe in the technique of logical thinking to achieve salvation. They consider the life, death and salvation to be like mysteries that can be solved through logical and analytical thinking. Furthermore, they argue that acquiring 'real knowledge' can only accrue salvation. This school of thought was supposed to be founded by Gautama who is also identified as the author of the Nyaya Sutra.

Charvaka School

The Charvaka School, also known as Lokayata, was an ancient Indian philosophical school that originated around the 6th century BCE. It was known for its materialistic and atheistic views and was critical of religious beliefs and practices. Let's analyze the given statements about the Charvaka School:

Statement 1: Brihaspati laid the foundation stone of this school.

This statement is incorrect. Although the Charvaka School has been attributed to a sage named Brihaspati, there is no historical evidence to support this claim. Brihaspati is a mythical figure associated with being the guru of gods, and it is likely that his name was attached to the school later on. Therefore, statement 1 is not correct.

Statement 2: It was the main propounder of the materialistic view to achieve salvation.

This statement is also incorrect. The Charvaka School rejected the idea of salvation altogether. It believed in the here and now, emphasizing the pursuit of pleasure and enjoyment in the present life. According to the Charvakas, there was no life after death, and one should focus on maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain in this life. Therefore, statement 2 is not correct.

Conclusion:

Based on the analysis above, we can conclude that neither of the given statements about the Charvaka School is correct. The school did not have a specific founder like Brihaspati, and it did not advocate for materialistic views to achieve salvation. Instead, it promoted a hedonistic philosophy that prioritized pleasure and enjoyment in the present life without concern for religious or spiritual matters.

According to Buddhist philosophy, the traditional teachings imbibed in the Vedas might not be useful for humans to achieve salvation and one should not trust them blindly. Following his experiences in life, Buddha realised that the world is full of misery and every human being should try to seek liberation through realisation of four noble truths. First, there is suffering in human life, which is reflected in the form of sickness, pain and subsequent death. Even the circle of life and death is full of pain. Separation from one's beloved also brings pain to humans. Second, the fundamental cause of all the suffering is desire. Third, he advises man to destroy the passions, desires and love for materialistic things that govern his life. The destruction of these passions, attachments, jealousy, sorrow, doubt and ego would lead to the end of sorrow and pain from the life of human beings. This will lead to the state of complete peace and nirvana. Finally, from the constant suffering and pessimism that dominates the life of an individual, one has to move towards liberation and optimism. Buddhist philosophy argues that the way to liberation (nirvana) is through an eightfold path. Eightfold path: Right vision Right resolve Right speech Right conduct Right means of livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right concentration

Vaisheshika School: The Vaisheshika school believes in the physicality of the Universe and is considered to be the realistic and objective philosophy that governs the universe. The Kanada who also wrote the basic text governing the Vaisheshika philosophy is often considered the founder of this school. They argue that everything in the universe was created by the five main elements: fire, air, water, earth and ether (sky).

Mimamsa School: The word 'Mimamsa literally means the art of reasoning, interpretation or application. This school focuses on the analysis of the texts of Samhita and Brahmana that are portions of the Vedas. They argue that the Vedas contain the eternal truth and then are the repositories of all knowledge. If one has to attain religious merit, acquire heaven and salvation, they would have to fulfill all the duties which are prescribed by the Vedas. The main focus of this philosophy was on the ritualistic part of the Vedas. It legitimized the social distance between the various classes. The texts that describe the Mimamsa philosophy in detail, are the Sutras of Jaimini, which were supposedly composed in the 3rd century BCE.

Orthodox Schools of Philosophy

The orthodox schools of philosophy, also known as the Shada Darshana, are six major schools of Hindu philosophy that are considered orthodox because they accept the authority of the Vedas. These schools are Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta. Let's examine each statement and determine their correctness.

Statement 1: This school believed that Vedas were the supreme revealed scriptures that hold the secrets to salvation

This statement is correct. All the orthodox schools of philosophy believe that the Vedas are the supreme revealed scriptures. They consider the Vedas to be divine revelations and hold them in high regard. They believe that the Vedas contain the ultimate knowledge and teachings necessary for attaining salvation or liberation.

Statement 2: They did not question the authenticity of the Vedas

This statement is correct. The orthodox schools of philosophy do not question the authenticity of the Vedas. They accept the Vedas as authoritative and consider them to be infallible. They believe that the Vedas were revealed by God or a divine source and therefore, their authenticity cannot be doubted.

Statement 3: They had six subschools that were called the Shada Darshana

This statement is correct. The orthodox schools of philosophy are divided into six subschools, which are collectively referred to as the Shada Darshana. These subschools represent different philosophical perspectives and approaches to understanding the nature of reality, the self, and the means of attaining liberation. Each subschool has its own unique doctrines, methodologies, and interpretations of the Vedas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, all the statements regarding orthodox schools of philosophy are correct. These schools hold the Vedas as the supreme revealed scriptures and do not question their authenticity. They are further divided into six subschools known as the Shada Darshana.

The correct answer is option 'D' - Neither of them.

Explanation:

1. Materialistic View of the Creation of the Universe:
The Sankhya philosophy does not propound a materialistic view of the creation of the universe. Instead, it puts forth a dualistic view where it postulates the existence of two fundamental entities - Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter). According to Sankhya, Purusha is the eternal, unchanging consciousness, while Prakriti is the source of all material manifestations in the universe. The Sankhya philosophy does not deny the existence of consciousness or spiritual aspects, but it primarily focuses on the analysis of matter and its various components.

2. Rational and Scientific View of the Creation of the Universe:
While the Sankhya philosophy is often regarded as one of the most ancient and rational schools of Indian philosophy, it does not necessarily propound a scientific view of the creation of the universe. Sankhya primarily emphasizes the analysis of matter, its components, and their interactions, rather than providing a scientific explanation for the origin of the universe. The philosophy employs a logical and systematic approach to understand the nature of reality, consciousness, and the relationship between Purusha and Prakriti. However, it does not align itself explicitly with the scientific method or theories of the creation of the universe.

In conclusion, both statements regarding the development of a new Sankhya view are incorrect. The Sankhya philosophy does not propound a materialistic view of the creation of the universe, and it does not provide a scientific explanation for the origin of the universe. Instead, Sankhya focuses on analyzing matter and understanding its components and their interactions, while also acknowledging the existence of consciousness.

Vedanta School: Vedanta is made of two words- 'Veda' and 'ant', i.e. the end of the Vedas. This school upholds the philosophies of life as elaborated in the Upanishads. The oldest text that formed the basis of this philosophy was Brahmasutra of Badrayana that was written and compiled in 2nd century BCE. The philosophy propounds that Brahma is the reality of life and everything else is unreal or Maya. They supported the theory of Karma. Furthermore, the atma or the consciousness of self is similar to the brahma.

Jain Philosophy: The Jain philosophy was first elaborated by the Jain tirthankar or wise person Rishaba Deva. He was one amongst the 24 tirthankars who govern the Jain religion. The first amongst them realised that the Adinath was the source of all Jain philosophy. Others who were important to develop and disseminate the Jain philosophy were Aristanemi and AjitNath. Like the Buddhist philosophy, the Jains also oppose the primacy of Vedas to achieve salvation. They also argue that man is surrounded by pain and controlling the mind and regulating one's conduct can stop the suffering faced by human beings. They argued that a man should control his mind by seeking right perception and knowledge. If coupled by the right conduct, he would be able to go on the path of salvation.