Ethics And Value System Of Sāṅkhya-Yoga

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the ethics and value system as represented in the  Sāṅkhya-Yoga school of Darśana and how it can be adopted and synthesized into the  contemporary framework of ethical society. The Sāṅkhya system looks at ethics from  the perspective of removal of Duḥkha-traya and cultivation of the Vivekakhyāti of  differentiation between Sat and Asat. It also looks from the perspective of Triguṇa and  how to attain Apavarga and Kaivalya through cultivation of Sattva and removal of the  influences of Tamas and Rajas.  While its sister philosophy Yoga looks at the perspective of Body-Mind Sādhana  by either adopting the body-breath practice of Haṭha Yoga or attainment of the  Cittavṛttinirodha-avasthā of Rāja Yoga of Patañjali. Whether it is adopting the practices  of Sādhaka-tattva or abstainment from the Bādhaka-tattva, or Mitāhāra, Haṭha Yoga  advocates the practice of retention of breath to ultimately control the mind.  Mental control is the ultimate aim of the Yogasūtra of Patañjali, which aims to rid  the mental constitutions of the latent impressions or Saṃskāra which shape our  thought patterns. Each of the practices of Abhyāsa, Vairāgya, Īśvarapraṇidhāna, or  Cittaprasādanam are the foundational ethics for the practice of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga. Yama  and Niyama are not just values but ways of advancement into the body and breath work  of Āsana and Prāṇāyāma. They are classified under Mahāvrata.  Through this paper, we will see how there is a conjunction and point of arrival of the  values and ethics of Sāṅkhya-Yoga and how these can be applied for any time period  with the definition of “sārvabhauma-mahāvrata”.