Philosophy of Charaka-samhita
by Asokan. G | 2008 | 88,742 words
Ayurveda, represented by Charaka and Sushruta, stands first among the sciences of Indian intellectual tradition. The Charaka-samhita, ascribed to the great celebrity Charaka, has got three strata. (1) The first stratum is the original work composed by Agnivesha, the foremost of the six disciples of Punarvasu Atreya. He accomplished the work by coll...
Nature of freedom
Liberation is a transformation from the negative states of unpleasant experiences to a positive state. It is the state of quiescence (praśānta) and immutability (akśara). It is called the Brahman.[1] This optimum can be attained only by complete renouncement. In the final stage of renunciation (caramasanyāsa) all sense-bound experiences including all determinate and specific cognitions are completely relinquished.[2] One ultimately identifies oneself with the Brahman. Self awareness ceases and finally the phenomenal existence itself ceases with out leaving behind any identifying mark.[3] In the liberated state, all volitions get destroyed due to the absence of rajas and tamas. Thus, one is finally and irrecoverably liberated from the ties of the phenomenal world, from rebirth.[4]
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
tasmiṃścaramasanyāse samūlāḥ sarvavedanāḥ sasañjnājñāna vijñānānivṛttiṃ yānti aśeṣataḥ. Ibid., I. 154.
[3]:
Ibid., V. 22.
[4]:
mokṣo rajastamo'bhāvāt balavatkarmasaṅkṣayāt viyogaḥ sarvasaṃyogairapunarbhāva ucyate, Ibid., I. 142.