Yoga’s Foundational Philosophies: Samkhya, Advaita Vedanta, Tantra

Vocabulary

1. ADVAITA VEDANTA — A non-dualistic understanding of Vedanta
2. ATMAN — The Self
3. BRAHMAN— The formless spirit of the Universe
4. GUNAS — Modes of being
5. KARMA — The law of universal causality
6. MAYA — The cosmic illusion caused by an error in spiritual perception
7. PRAKRTI — Substance
8. PURUSHA — Spirit
9. SAMKHYA — A dualistic philosophy teaching discrimination between spirit and matter
10. SHAKTI — Feminine principle
11. SHIVA — Masculine principle
12. TANTRA — A non-dualistic philosophy with practices designed to realize through experience that everything is divine and connected
13. VEDANTA — A philosophy based The Vedas

Overview

• Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are rooted in Samkhya philosophy.
• Samkhya is dualistic, teaching discrimination between purusha (spirit) and prakrti (substance).
• Other Yoga schools of thought are based upon the non-dualistic philosophies of Advaita Vedanta or Tantra, which conclude that the “inherent nature of all things is Consciousness… and that there is only One Consciousness.”
• Advaita Vedanta “refers to the non-dualistic school of Hindu philosophy which is derived mostly from the Upanishads.” (hinduwebsite.com)
• Tantric practices are designed to realize through experience that everything is divine and connected.
• Some sources consider these different philosophies connected and complementary. For example: “The aspirant clears the mind through the practice of Yoga meditation as codified in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, does self-enquiry of Vedanta, and then breaks through the final barrier with Tantra, experiencing the heights of kundalini awakening.” (Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati)

TANTRA VS. SAMKHYA

Tantra explores the essential unity of reality. Samkhya analyzes the different elements of physical manifestation and explains how they take form from spirit. – Alan Finger 

CONNECTING YOGA, VEDANTA AND TANTRA

In the tradition of the Himalayan masters, Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra complement one another, leading one systematically along the path to Self-realization. The aspirant clears the mind through the practice of Yoga meditation as codified in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, does self-enquiry of Vedanta, and then breaks through the final barrier with Tantra, experiencing the heights of kundalini awakening. – Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati