an inner world of subjective experience
and the objective outer world, which it
argues are not true aspects of the real, or
essential, world. Samkhya metaphysics
posits two principles as the essence of
the universe, purusha and prakrti.
Purusha is pure awareness, which is
conscious but inactive and unchanging.
Prakrti is primal matter which, in its
most basic form, is an equilibrium of
three different unconscious forces
(gunas): sattva(goodness), rajas(pas-
sion), and tamas(decay). According to
the Samkhya, the conflation and confu-
sion of purusha and prakrti is the basic
cause for the bondage of the soul to the
cycle of reincarnation (samsara)—
where purusha is seen as if it is acting,
and prakrti is seen as if it is conscious.
While this misunderstanding does not
effect purusha, it causes prakrti to
undergo an evolutionary process, in
which this primal matter becomes
increasingly differentiated, leading to
further confusion of the nature of the
universe. The first stage of evolution is
called mahat(“great one”) and occurs
when the original equilibrium between
the three gunas has been disturbed;
mahat is also known as buddhi, which is
conceived as the cognitive faculty nec-
essary for thought. The mental processes
facilitated by buddhi spur the develop-
ment of ahamkar (“I-making”), in
which one finds the first feelings of ego-
consciousness. With the rise of this sub-
jective feeling comes the division into
subjective and objective worlds: on one
hand, ahamkar evolves the five subtle
elements (tanmatras), the precursors of
the gross elements, and on the other it
evolves into the eleven faculties: five
jnanendriyas or sense organs, five
karmendriyasor organs of action, and
the mind as the eleventh. At liberation
this process of evolution happens
in reverse, with the many successively
devolving into the one. As in
most Indian philosophical systems,
liberation comes when correct under-
standing has replaced a mistaken
one. For further information see
Gerald Larson and Ram Shankar
Bhattacharya (eds.) Samkhya,1987; and
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Charles
A. Moore (eds.), A Sourcebook in Indian
Philosophy, 1957.Expiation
See prayashchitta.Expiation