Dr. Nanda Gopal Biswas

Sāṁkhya, one of the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy, offers a dualistic framework for understanding the human condition, particularly the problem of suffering (duḥkha). This paper explores Sāṁkhya’s metaphysical and soteriological perspectives on suffering, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary debates in Indian philosophy. Sāṁkhya posits that suffering arises from the misidentification of puruṣa (consciousness) with prakṛti (matter), leading to entanglement in the material world. Liberation (kaivalya) is achieved through discriminative knowledge (viveka), which disentangles consciousness from material bondage. In the 21st century, Sāṁkhya’s insights are juxtaposed against modern philosophical discourses on suffering, including existentialist, Buddhist, and Advaita Vedānta perspectives. The paper examines how Sāṁkhya’s emphasis on self-knowledge addresses psychological and existential dimensions of suffering, such as alienation and anxiety, in a globalized world. It also critiques Sāṁkhya’s relevance amidst scientific advancements and secular frameworks, questioning its applicability in addressing collective suffering, such as social injustice or ecological crises. By engaging with interdisciplinary dialogues, this study underscores Sāṁkhya’s enduring philosophical contributions while highlighting its limitations in contemporary contexts. Keywords: Sāṁkhya, suffering, duḥkha, puruṣa, prakṛti, liberation, kaivalya, Indian philosophy, viveka, 21st-century debates.

The Vedās are an oral collection of refined cosmic knowledge, and from the Vedās, we got various Darśan Śāstra. Vedās and Darśan Śāstra are the fountainhead of Indian culture and civilization. This paper is an assessment of the importance of Darśan Śāstra for any education. In this paper, I argue why Darśan Śāstra is necessary for a school or elementary education, not only for students but also for teachers and institutions. Keywords: NEP 2022, Education, Philosophy, Darśan Śāstra, Darśan Śāstra in school education.

Samkhya Philosophy: The Ancient Wisdom for Attaining Profound Tranquillity and Deep Peace Samkhya philosophy, one of the six orthodox systems of Indian thought, offers a profound framework for achieving tranquillity and deep peace through self-realization and liberation. Rooted in ancient Vedic traditions, Samkhya provides a dualistic metaphysics, distinguishing between Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter), and elucidates the path to transcend suffering by understanding their interplay. This paper explores Samkhya’s core principles, including the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas), the twenty-five tattvas (elements of existence), and the process of discriminative knowledge (viveka). By discerning the eternal Purusha from the transient Prakriti, individuals can attain kaivalya (liberation), a state of profound peace free from material entanglements. The philosophy’s emphasis on introspection, meditation, and self-awareness aligns with modern mindfulness practices, making it relevant for contemporary seekers of inner calm. This study highlights how Samkhya’s timeless wisdom fosters mental clarity, emotional balance, and spiritual freedom, offering practical insights for navigating life’s complexities. By integrating its teachings, individuals can cultivate enduring tranquillity, transcending the fluctuations of the material world.

Truth, love, and compassion are the essence of Universal Human Values. With these notions, this paper will centrally discuss SDG3 and SDG4 based on Indian Philosophical traditions. NEP2020 sets a holistic, value-based education policy, for that reason value education is an essential part of our education system. Apart from this, NEP2020 calls for the positive implementation of IKS, and Indian Philosophy is in the central position. I hope this paper will give an introductory notion about Sustainable development through the lens of universal human values from Indian Philosophy.

Anna Sebastian Perayil (26), a chartered accountant at Ernst & Young (EY), died in July 2024, four months after joining the company. She died because of overwhelming work pressure (BBC: 25 September 2024). There are so many like Anna, young people dying every day, just because of anxiety or stress. As per the WHO, 4% of the global population has anxiety, and more than 300 million people have an anxiety disorder. The paper assesses Value Education and Meditation in connection with NEP20, SDG 3, and SDG 4, which will give anyone strong mental health to set a unique Mindset, acquire perfect Knowledge, and develop specific Skills.. Keywords: Anxiety, lifestyle, meditation, NEP20, IKS, SDG 3, SDG4.

In this webinar, we will delve into the ancient wisdom through the lens of Sāmkhya Darśana. Sāṁkhya Darśana is one of the oldest philosophical schools of the Indian subcontinent. This session will offer insights into Sāṁkhya's reverence for Prakrti (nature) to Deep Ecology's intrinsic value of nature. Explore how to engage in Sāṁkhya's Sāttvika (qualities or actions characterized by balance) lifestyle for a deeper ecological and sustainable practice. Participants will explore how Guņas (constituents) can serve as a framework for understanding ecological consciousness. The session will highlight Sāṁkhya's perspective on deep ecology and its relevance in modern times.

Sāṁkhya Darśana is one of the oldest philosophical schools of the Indian Subcontinent. This school accepts the authority of the Vedās by denying the existence of God. This paper investigates Sāṁkhya Darśana’s concept of well-being and spirituality with Atheistic approaches, along with the importance of Viveka Jñāna. Sāṁkhyakārikā and its various commentaries are taken as primary sources. Methodologies used are primarily conceptual analysis and comparative study. In this research paper, I argue that the ancient wisdom is not only theistic approaches, but also the atheistic Sāṁkhya Darśana’s perspectives were very important in the Indian Subcontinent, which not only influenced other systems, but also have some similarities with modern sciences.

The Eka-Sarana Dharma of Sankaradeva established a new era in Assam and nearby areas during the 15th and 16th centuries. The impact on religion and socio-economics can be seen through this movement. This paper is a very short introduction to the bhakti movement in Assam. This paper also discusses how Borgeet, Sattriya Dance, AnkiyaNaat, and Bhaona changed the lifestyle of Assam and still retain their relevance to modern times. Sankaradeva and his followers tried to de-root the Caste Hierarchy and give importance to women's participation everywhere in society, which all influenced Assamese literature and language.

Buddhism has a rich tradition in Bangladesh, developed through the development of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism in ancient Bengal. The followers of Buddhism in present-day Bangladesh mainly live in the Chittagong region. Their religious life is reflected in temples, monasteries, and social activities. The non-violence and humanism of the Buddha's teachings have had a profound impact on the culture here. However, as a religious minority in modern times, the Buddhist community faces various challenges. This chapter analyses the historical context, current impact, and prospects of Buddhism in Bangladesh.

Sāṁkhya philosophy is the oldest philosophical school. Sāṁkhya philosophy explains the universe accepting only two fundamental categories which are prakṛṭi and puruṣa- where prakṛṭi is unconsciously active and puruṣa is consciously inactive. Similarly, Sāṁkhya philosophy discusses the mind-body relation in terms of puruṣa and prakṛṭi. Sāṁkhya also talks about the subjective identity as well as objective world. Although Sāṁkhya discusses about manyness of selves (bahu-puruṣa), but there is an argument that Sāmkhya philosophy would not establish the existence of other minds. So, the argument of Sāṁkhya for other minds seems to stop midway. In this paper, I purport to discuss Sāṁkhya perspective and existence of other minds presented in Sāṁkhya philosophy. The paper also critically examines the Sāṁkhyakārikā of Īswarakṛṣṇa to bring out the possibility of epistemological argument of the other minds.

In the Sāṁkhya, Puruṣa (self) is free, inactive and it is the nature of consciousness (cetanā). It is beyond time and space, and it has both merit and demerit, attachment and detachment. It is real form which is not bounded. All actions, pleasure and suffering, change and feeling, etc. are the distortions of the body. Puruṣa (self) is beyond the bodily and mental suffering (dukhaḥ). Puruṣa (self) is neither the cause nor the effect. Puruṣa (self) is not material, and it is also not known by direct perception. Ācharya Śaṅkara critiques the Sāṁkhya view and says, If Puruṣa (self) is inactive then how can it possibly influence the others? Śaṅkara also questions the relation of the Puruṣa (self) with the Prakṛṭi (non-self). This paper elaborates the nature and the existence of Puruṣa (self), purpose of the inactive Puruṣa (self), the subjectivity of Puruṣa (self) from the text “Sāṁkhyakārikā”. A critical analysis of Śaṅkara‟s critique of the “Sāṁkhyakārikā” is made and by providing an analytical assessment of the self (Puruṣa) and its relation with the non-self (Prakṛṭi) the paper attempts at arguing against Śaṅkara‟s logic.

Samkhya philosophy is one of the oldest philosophies in the Indian philosophical system. This philosophy is independent in origin and mainly known for its evolution theory. Samkhya philosophy has accepted the two ultimate and independent realities, Nature and pure Consciousness. This paper is an attempt to comprehend the notion of deep ecology from the Samkhya’s evolution theory perspective. In this paper, firstly, we have elucidated the Samkhya philosophy of suffering and the solution to the problem. In the second part of the article, we have argued that how Samkhya's philosophical notion of Nature demonstrates our embeddedness in Nature. Therefore, the idea of deep ecology is always there in one or another form in Samkhya philosophy. It has also connections to the idea of sustainable development.