The Self in Hindu Philosophies of Liberation

Abstract

This chapter presents, in a manner accessible to non-specialists, succinct explanations of ideas pertaining to the ‘self’ within the Sankhya, Yoga, and Shankara’s Vedanta systems, which are among the most prominent Hindu philosophies. By examining such influential texts as the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, and the Bhagavad Gita , emphasis is placed on where these philosophies locate psychological suffering. Despite variations, these systems agree that misapprehension of our true selves is the root cause of mental disequilibrium and illness. Our well-being therefore depends on liberating ourselves from erroneous self-images by realizing our true natures. As the Western yoga and nonduality movements popularize such ideas globally, familiarity with these worldviews grows crucial for health professionals and educators. Footnotes and bibliographic entries provide the reader with both classic and contemporary scholarly references well suited for more advanced studies.

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