2. Six Hindu Philosophical Systems (Introduction)

During the long period of its history, Indian thought has evolved practically and theoretically many systems of philosophy and religion which besides the ancient great national religions Brahmanism and Buddhism, there are many other philosophical systems. Hinduism is a board and diverse religion embedded with the so-called Hindu philosophy divided into six Āstika darśanas (orthodox schools) which accept the Vedas as supreme revealed scriptures; while Buddhism and Jainism are considered the Nāstika darśanas (heterodox schools) because they do not accept the Vedas as authoritative.^[1] The Hindu orthodox philosophical schools are the Sāṃkhya, Mīmāṃsā, Yoga, Vaiśeṣika, Nyāya and Vedānta schools. Each of these six schools was not a product of one mind or any single individual; those who were their real founders and when they appeared are still controversial, but the worth of their principles in Indian culture does not decrease because of these problems. Although their thoughts were rejected by the Buddhists, altogether they tried to present the truth in their own ways, their own languages and knowledge.

The following analyses will attempt to elucidate that the Upaniṣadic doctrine of Brahman as presented in the Vedānta philosophy, which is similar to the Buddhist thought of the Buddha-nature, came into being after the time of the Buddha-nature doctrine. In order words, the Vedāntavādins created their doctrine of Brahman by copying the thought of the Buddha-nature and sometimes mixing with the Hindu myths or theories of the creation of the world presented in the Vedas.

[1. The Sāṃkhya]

[2. The Yoga]

[3. The Nyāya]

[4. The Vaiśeṣika]

[5. The Mīmāṃsā]

[6. The Vedānta]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Hindu Philosophy, p. 5.