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"This text-centered certificate course explores one of the world’s earliest and most sophisticated traditional scriptural frameworks designed to understand reality through theological, metaphysical, and philosophical lenses. Rooted in the primary teachings of Kaṇāda and expanded by Praśastapāda, this certificate course reveals how ancient thinkers developed a comprehensive traditional scriptural system of matter, motion, causation, perception, and cosmic order as recorded in classical Sanskrit literature."
"Students will systematically journey through the seven padārthas—dravya (substance), guṇa (quality), karma (motion), sāmānya (generality), viśeṣa (particularity), samavāya (inherence), and abhāva (absence)—and discover how these scriptural categories form a unified ontology capable of explaining everything from atomic elements to consciousness, and from cosmic laws to ethical action."
"The curriculum highlights Vaiśeṣika’s remarkable contributions to ancient natural philosophy, including its textual theories of atoms (paramāṇu), molecular combination, heat, light, sound, and motion—culminating in Praśastapāda’s commentarial formulations regarding kinetic vectors. At the same time, learners will explore the system’s profound theological insights: the nature of the soul, mind, karma, liberation, and the extraordinary scriptural concept of ṛtambharā‑prajñā, or truth‑bearing spiritual intuition."
"By the end of this certificate course, learners will understand how Vaiśeṣika integrates traditional textual observation, logical analysis, and spiritual realization into a single coherent worldview. They will see why this darśana represents a profound traditional scriptural system of reality, offering timeless theological insights into the structure of the cosmos and humanity’s spiritual place within it."
"This program is optimized for advanced scholars of traditional scriptural philosophy, Indology, comparative theology, and anyone interested in how ancient civilizations approached the deepest questions of existence with intellectual rigor and spiritual devotion, preparing them for advanced religious vocations."

Note: Participants of the course are free to join Live Zoom Sunday Discussion Sessions starting every Sunday at 9:30 AM (New York time) to Ask Questions related to the Course or any question on Hinduism from an Expert. This is free of cost.

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Assessment is optional for those wishing to receive a Completion Certificate (about half our participants go for it). Assessment is based on quiz or an essay.
Quiz or Essays are usually due one week after the course ends. We encourage our tutors to assist where possible with extensions when needed.
Completion Certificates are awarded by Vedic Science Virtual University, A Project of Indian Foundation for Vedic Science, India on successful assessment Please note that these are informal non-accredited courses to enhance efficiency in Vedic Studies. Some students have used them towards degree courses, yoga training, and even Masters degrees, but that was by individual arrangement.

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Assessment type: Quiz
Total marks: 100
Pass percentage: 70%
Attempts allowed: 3
Duration: 60 min

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Certificate in Vaiśeṣika Darśana: Scriptural Conceptions of Matter, Mind and Consciousness

Vaiśeṣika Darśana - — A Physics and Metaphysics of the Universe is an interdisciplinary course exploring ancient Indian philosophy and science. Stude…

3 hrs/week ~135 hrs total

If you want to enroll in only this course, see purchasing options for this course. go monthly with Unlimited / Unlimited+ for all courses and curricula. Unlimited Unlimited+

Prof. Ravi Prakash Arya

Certified instructor

Vaisheshika Darshana: A Physics and Metaphysics of the Existing Universe , by Prof. Ravi Prakash Arya, Pub. Amazon Books USA & Indian Foundation for Vedic Science.

Note: Participants of the course are free to join Live Zoom Sunday Discussion Sessions starting every Sunday at 9:30 AM (New York time) to Ask Questions related to the Course or any question on Hinduism from an Expert. This is free of cost.

Zoom Link: join Live Zoom Sunday Discussion Session

Zoom Meeting ID: 813 3077 7352

Zoom Passcode: shantihi

Assessment is optional for those wishing to receive a Completion Certificate (about half our participants go for it). Assessment is based on quiz or an essay.
Quiz or Essays are usually due one week after the course ends. We encourage our tutors to assist where possible with extensions when needed.
Completion Certificates are awarded by Vedic Science Virtual University, A Project of Indian Foundation for Vedic Science, India on successful assessment Please note that these are informal non-accredited courses to enhance efficiency in Vedic Studies. Some students have used them towards degree courses, yoga training, and even Masters degrees, but that was by individual arrangement.

Assessment details

Assessment type: Quiz
Total marks: 100
Pass percentage: 70%
Attempts allowed: 3
Duration: 60 min

Enroll in this course

Entitlement	Billing	List Price	Access
Certification	One-Time Purchase	$10.00	1 months
Reading	Monthly Subscription	$2.99	Until Cancelled
Reading + Practice	Monthly Subscription	$3.99	Until Cancelled

Enroll now to choose your desired option

Enroll now

Unlimited access options

Unlimited access to all learning material for a flat monthly subscription fee. Unlimited = read all*; Unlimited+ = read and practice all*. Certification need payments per course.

Unlimited Unlimited+

* No certification. Unlimited does not include practice.

Lectures

Introduction to the Six Ṣaḍ–darśanas and the Place of Vaiśeṣika in Vedic Knowledge Free preview This lecture positions Vaiśeṣika within the broader Vedic tradition, outlines its unique contributions, and prepares students for a deep exploration of its categories, dravyas, and metaphysical insights.

Dharma, Padārthas, and the Foundational Ontology of Vaiśeṣika This lecture covered: • Vaiśeṣika definition of dharma • Vedic authority • Knowledge as the path to liberation • Six categories of padārthas • Nine dravyas • Twenty four guṇas • Five karmas • Laws of causation • Early formulation of the third law of motion

Textual Study of Chapter 1, Section 1 Dharma is defined as the knowledge of the properties of padārthas (objects of the visible and invisible world) that, when applied, leads to improved mundane life and spiritual realization. The Vedas, considered a valid source of knowledge, describe the properties of all padārthas. Salvation is achieved through knowledge of the similarities and dissimilarities of the six categories of padārthas, leading to self-realization and Brahman realization. The text discusses the common properties of dravya (substance), guṇa (quality), and karma (motion), including beingness, changeability, and causality. It explains that dravyas and guṇas can cause entities of their own class or different classes, but karma cannot cause another karma. The text also states that a dravya does not destroy its cause or effect, but a guṇa can. The text defines guṇa (quality), karma (motion), and dravya (material or spiritual entity) in the context of Vaisheshika philosophy.

Causality, Generality, Individuality, and the Ontology of Existence This lecture covers: • The Causality Principle • The distinction between cause without effect and effect without cause • The role of the observer in determining generality and individuality • The hierarchy of sāmānya • The uniqueness of paramāṇu as viśeṣa • The ontology of sattā (existence) • The distinction between dravyatva, guṇatva, karmatva and their respective entities

Textual Study of Chapter 1, Section 2 The causality principle states that every effect has a cause, forming the foundation of rationality and Vedic science. While the absence of an effect doesn’t prove the absence of a cause, the notion of generality and individuality is subjective, depending on the observer’s intelligence. Beingness is a common characteristic of all entities, falling under generality, while dravya, guṇa, and karma possess both general and individual qualities. Existence is defined as the knowledge of being-ness in dravyas, guṇas, and karmas. It is independent of these entities and cannot be classified as guṇa or karma. Existence is a general entity, distinct from dravya, guṇa, and karma, and is the unifying factor of all three. Scientists find sūtras relevant to Systems Theory, Perception Theory, Artificial Intelligence, and Robotics.

The Five Bhūtas, Their Sensory Foundations, and the Physics of Matter in Vaiśeṣika This lecture covers: • Meaning of bhūta as “evolute” • Tanmātrā–sense–bhūta correspondence • Definitions of pṛthivī, āpaḥ, tejas, vāyu, ākāśa • Phase transitions known to ancient Indians • Identification through liṅga • Vāyu’s unique property of touch • Scriptural basis for identifying invisible dravyas • Proof of God through nomenclature and function • Refutation of space being known through motion

Textual Study of Chapter 2, Section 1 The Vaiśeṣika system of philosophy investigates the physics of creation by starting from the visible (Bhūtas/evolutes) and moving towards the invisible (active energy particles to inactive energy). The five main evolutes, or Pañcha-Mahābhūta, are defined by their sensory properties: smell (Pṛthivī), taste (Āpaḥ), luminosity (Teja), touch (Vāyu), and vibration (Ākāśa). These evolutes are further characterized by additional qualities such as number, magnitude, and gravity. Vāyu, defined as gases, is identified by its sensory property of touch (sparśa) and is considered the cause of all creatures’ birth. It is eternal, originating from prakṛti, and is associated with kinetic energy and vibratory motion. The text also discusses the change of state of matter from solid to liquid upon contact with Agni (fire/heat). Vāyu (air) is a dravya (material entity) because it is independent, possesses motion, and has the property of touch (sparśa).

Inherent and Non Inherent Properties of the Bhūtas, Time, Space, Directions, Doubt, and Śabda This lecture covers: • How contact produces non inherent properties • Inherent guṇas of pṛthivī, āpaḥ, tejas • Nature of time and its causal role • Dimensions of space and the derivation of directions • The psychology of doubt • The ontology of śabda and its non eternality • The three causes of sound

Textual Study of Chapter 2, Section 2 This chapter explores the inherent qualities of various substances and concepts. It is established that smell is not an inherent quality of cloth but is acquired through contact with flowers. Similarly, hotness is not an inherent quality of water but is acquired through contact with fire. The chapter also delves into the nature of time, space, and directions, comparing them to the unmanifest vāyu and explaining their existence and characteristics. The text explores the concept of doubt, defining it as arising from the perception of common properties, the non-perception of special properties, and the recollection of special properties. It then delves into the nature of Śabda (vibration), arguing that it is not a dravya, karma, or quality, and is ultimately non-eternal due to its dependence on a cause and its lack of common qualities with eternal entities. Śabda (vibration) is non-eternal because it is produced by a cause and undergoes modifications.

Ātmā as the Inner Dravya and the Foundations of Sensory Cognition This lecture covers: • Transition from external to internal dravya • Sensory objects and their domains • The soul as the true knower • Refutation of the body as the cause of knowledge • Four types of causal relationships • Opposing and non opposing factors • Fallacies of inference • True knowledge as arising from soul–sense–object conjunction • Inference of the soul in other beings

Textual Study of Chapter 3, Section 1 The third chapter discusses the soul, an internal spiritual entity, as the cause of sensory perception. The soul, distinct from the body and its material components, is the source of knowledge, enabling the soul to perceive sensory objects. This is supported by the argument that the body, formed from material elements devoid of knowledge, cannot be the source of sensory perception. The text discusses the relationship between cause and effect, highlighting different types of fallacies in reasoning. It explains how the absence or presence of an effect can indicate the presence or absence of a cause, and how well-known causes are valid.

The Existence of Manas (Mind), the Proof of Ātmā, and the Multiplicity of Souls This lecture covers • Perception requires four factors: ātmā, indriya, artha, and manas. • The mind exists because knowledge sometimes fails despite sense contact. • Mind is one, atomic, material, and eternal. • The soul is established through signs such as life, desire, aversion, and effort. • The soul is eternal, spiritual, and distinct from the body. • The word “I” refers directly to the soul, not the body. • Knowledge cannot belong to the body; therefore, the soul is the knower. • Souls are many, not one, because experiences are not shared across bodies. • Vedic texts confirm the plurality of souls.

Textual Study of Chapter 3, Section 2 The existence of the mind is proven by the necessity of its presence for perception, even when the soul, sense organs, and objects are present. The mind is material and eternal, similar to Vāyu. The existence of the soul is proven by signs like respiration, life, and cognition, and is also material and eternal like Vāyu. The text discusses the use of the word “I” in relation to self-realization and the existence of the soul. It argues that while the word “I” is used in the Vedas and Śāstras to refer to the soul, in everyday language it is often used to refer to the body, leading to confusion. The text clarifies that the feeling of “I” is associated with the soul, not the body, and provides examples to illustrate this point. The text discusses the existence and multiplicity of souls. It argues that knowledge and consciousness are properties of the soul, not the body, as evidenced by the consistent experience of pleasure and pain across different bodies.

Nityatva (Eternality), Universal Causality, and the Conditions of Perception The lecture explores the Vaiśeṣika doctrine of nityatva, or eternality, which posits that certain entities like prakṛti, kāla, and ātmā are eternal and without material cause. These eternal entities are inferred from their effects, aligning with the Vedic principle that sat (eternal) cannot be created or destroyed. The lecture also examines the conditions for perception, emphasizing that objects must possess magnitude, multiplicity, form, and touchability to be visible.

Textual Study of Chapter 4, Section 1 The principle of Nityatva (eternality) in Vedic science states that entities without a material cause are eternal. Eternal entities, like prakṛti, time, and soul, cannot be created or destroyed, aligning with the first law of thermodynamics. The existence of effects proves the existence of their eternal causes, a concept rooted in the Universal Causality Principle. The text discusses the conditions for visual perception, stating that an object must be large, composed of multiple substances, have a form, and be touchable. It explains that while air is invisible, it exists, similar to paramāṇu, soul, mind, time, and space. The text concludes that paramāṇu is not perceptible due to its lack of specific form or color. The logic of perception of qualities inherited by an effect helps describe sensory perception of guṇatva (qualities) and existence.

The Three Classes of Effected Dravyas, the Constitution of Bodies, and the Origin of Yonija & Ayonij The Vaiśeṣika system categorizes effected dravyas into bodies, sense organs, and sensory objects. The human body is primarily composed of pṛthivī atoms, with other bhūta atoms present. Ayonija beings, not born from a womb, exist and are confirmed by nomenclature, logic, and Vedic testimony.

Textual Study of Chapter 4, Section 2 The material cause of living beings’ bodies is Pṛthivī, but the bodies are not solely composed of Pṛthivī. Bodies are classified as yonija (born from female reproductive organs) and ayonija (not born from female reproductive organs). Ayonija beings lack a specific place and direction of origin. Ayonija beings, born without parents, obtain their bodies based on their past sanskāras (psychological impressions). These sanskāras, formed from thoughts, actions, and desires, act as seeds for future life, determining species, lifespan, and experiences. The existence of ayonija beings is supported by their names, derived from Vedic vocables, and references in the Vedas, such as the creation of firstborn beings by God.

Karma (Motion) in Living and Non Living Entities: Effort, Reaction, Gravity, Force, and Natural Moti Kaṇāda’s Vaiśeṣika Darśana prioritizes karma (motion) over guṇas, highlighting its centrality in Vedic physics. The text explores various aspects of motion, including its causes in living beings and material objects, the role of gravity, and the propagation of motion through connected bodies. It also anticipates Newton’s laws, recognizing the proportionality between force and effort, and force and acceleration.

Textual Study of Chapter 5, Section 1 This chapter discusses karma (motion) in living and non-living things. It explains that motion in living beings arises from the soul’s conjunction with the mind and effort, while motion in material things can be caused by contact with moving limbs. The chapter also explores the concept of gravity as a force causing objects to fall unless acted upon by another object. The Vaiśeṣika tradition recognized gravity (gurutva) as a force responsible for downward motion, predating Newton’s laws of motion. The tradition also acknowledged various types of motion, including explosive, sleepwalking, and ballistic motion, attributing them to different causes like fire, Vāyu, and magnetism. Additionally, the Vaiśeṣika tradition explored the concept of sanskāra, or the lasting effect of motion, influencing subsequent motions. Ancient Indians understood ballistic motion.

Motions in Solids, Liquids, Fire, Air, Mind, and Soul: The Full Spectrum of Karma in Vaiśeṣika The lecture concludes the Vaiśeṣika treatment of motion, integrating physics, psychology, cosmology, and soteriology into a unified theory of karma. It covers various aspects of motion, including solids, liquids, gases, and the soul, as well as the nature of darkness, space, time, and the motionless nature of guṇas and karmas. The lecture also highlights Praśastapāda’s four laws of motion, which anticipate Newton’s laws.

Textual Study of Chapter 5, Section 2 Praśastpāda, in his work ‘Padārthadharmasaṅgraha’, described four laws of motion involving solid and liquid substances. These laws include the influence of force, directionality of motion, action-reaction pairs, and the role of momentum in liquids. The text also explores various phenomena related to water, such as rainfall, evaporation, capillary action, and the effects of temperature on its state. The text discusses the Vedic understanding of natural phenomena, highlighting the role of Agni (fire) in the formation of water and hail. It also explores the concept of invisible forces causing motion in fire, air, atoms, and the mind. Additionally, it delves into the causes of pleasure and pain, attributing them to the interaction between the soul, mind, senses, and objects. The text discusses the nature of darkness, space, time, and avakāśa, explaining that they are devoid of motion due to their all-pervasive and formless nature.

Praśastapāda’s Three Laws of Motion in the Vaiśeṣika Tradition Praśastapāda’s laws of motion, articulated in the Vaiśeṣika tradition, predate Newton’s laws and describe principles of force, directionality, proportionality, and reaction forces. His laws include the necessity of an impressed force for motion, proportionality of motion to force and direction, and equal and opposite reactions. Additionally, Praśastapāda provides a molecular explanation for fluid motion, highlighting the advanced understanding of physics in classical Indian philosophy.

Textual Study of Chapter 6, Section 1 The Vedas, being the source of cosmic laws, are authored by the creator of the universe. The meaningful nomenclature in the Vedas and the instructions for charity demonstrate the author’s knowledge of the creation and its laws. The Vedas also describe the fruits of charity, indicating the author’s firsthand knowledge of these outcomes. The Vedas emphasize the importance of charity and donations for the betterment of the earth and atmosphere, warning that misuse of such funds leads to negative consequences. They also highlight the significance of associating with good individuals and avoiding the company of the wicked, as well as the importance of giving preference to distinguished scholars while not neglecting those of average or low merit. Additionally, the Vedas advocate for the boycott of anti-social and anti-national elements and discourage seeking help from resourceful but unqualified individuals. Individuals with exceptional talent who contribute to knowledge and societal progress should be exempt fro

Sāmānya Dharma: Vedic Authority, Social Ethics, Merit, Wickedness, and National Order Kaṇāda shifts from physics to ethics in Vaiśeṣika Darśana, applying scientific clarity to dharma. The Veda, authored by the creator, is the foundation of cosmic law, prescribing charity for ecological welfare and emphasizing individual karma. Society should prioritize distinguished scholars while supporting all, boycott anti-social elements, and exempt those at or below per capita income from taxes.

Textual Study of Chapter 6, Section 2 Actions intended for both social welfare and self-interest should be regarded as serving self-interest if social welfare is not achieved. Actions like ablution, fasting, and charity are examples of those with self-interest motives. Good actions are those with fair motives, while bad actions are those with corrupt motives. Unholy earning occurs when a person earns outside the prescribed means of their Āśrama. Holy earning alone is not sufficient for welfare; compliance with yamas (social discipline) is also essential. Attachment to objects of happiness, sense objects, past life sanskāras, and species-specific tendencies contribute to a living being’s inclination towards dharma or adharma, ultimately determining their path to mokṣa. Self-realization actions lead to mokṣa.

Visible and Invisible Motives, Purity of Livelihood, Causes of Attachment, and the Moral Path to Mok Kaṇāda’s analysis of Vaiśeṣika Darśana explores the motives behind human actions, distinguishing between visible and invisible motives. He emphasizes the importance of intention in determining the purity of actions, highlighting the role of dharma in achieving mokṣa. Kaṇāda also delves into the psychology of attachment, explaining how it influences adherence to dharma and ultimately determines one’s path to liberation or rebirth.

Textual Study of Chapter 7, Section 1 This chapter examines the qualities (guṇas) of substances, distinguishing between eternal and non-eternal qualities based on the nature of their source materials (dravyas). It explores how the properties of earth, water, fire, and air, as well as their products, are influenced by their causes and the effects of heat treatment. The chapter also delves into the characteristics of atoms, highlighting their invisibility to the naked eye and their role as the building blocks of larger objects. The text discusses the nature of atomic and big magnitudes, explaining that they are relative qualities based on the presence or absence of smallness in comparison to other objects. It clarifies that these qualities are not inherent to the objects themselves but are rather a result of their relationship with other objects. The text also touches upon the nature of actions, the eternal nature of the paramaṇu, and the existence of God.

The Examination of Guṇa, Parimāṇa, Aṇutva–Mahattva, and the Logic of Relativity in Vaiśeṣika Kaṇāda examines the behavior of guṇas, attributes that reside in dravyas. Guṇas inherit the eternality of their dravya, being eternal in eternal dravyas like paramāṇus and non-eternal in non-eternal dravyas like earth, water, fire, and air. The lecture also explores the relativity of perception, the existence of God, and the nature of mind, space, and time.

Textual Study of Chapter 7, Section 2 Chapter 7, Section 2 discusses the nature of singleness (ekatva) and discreteness (pṛthaktva) as qualities distinct from color, taste, smell, and touch. It clarifies that these qualities do not apply to motions and qualities, and that the common practice of using singular and plural forms for them is a misunderstanding. The section also explores the nature of contact (saṁyoga) and separation (vibhāga), categorizing them into three types each based on the nature of the interacting agents. Sañyoga (contact) and vibhāga (separation) are qualities, not inherent in themselves. They cannot exist between qualities, like atomicity and bigness, or between a quality and a dravya, like a word and its meaning. This is because cause and effect are not inherently related, and words and their meanings are devoid of motion and not inherently connected. The meaning of words is known by convention, passed down through generations, not by inherent relationships.

Ekatva, Pṛthaktva, Number, Contact–Separation, Word–Meaning, and the Doctrine of Samavāya This lecture explores the qualities of singleness (ekatva) and discreteness (pṛthaktva) in Vaiśeṣika Darśana, emphasizing their logical nature and application to non-eternal objects. It examines the relationship between cause and effect, highlighting their inherence (samavāya) and the impossibility of contact between them. The lecture also delves into the nature of words and meanings, asserting their conventionality and lack of physical relation.

Textual Study of Chapter 8, Section 1 The quality of jñāna (cognition) is explained in the context of ‘soul’ dravya. Cognition of dravya (matter), guṇa (quality), and karma (action) requires the help of their general and special qualities. For example, the knowledge that ‘this is matter’ is not possible unless we know the general and special features of matter. The text discusses the nature of knowledge and its relationship to objects, qualities, and actions. It explores the sequential order of knowledge and its cause-effect relationship, emphasizing that the contact of the soul, mind, sense organs, and objects is the cause of knowledge. The text also delves into the meaning of words, stating that they reside in dravyas, guṇas, and karmas, and examines the role of the five elements in the formation of sense organs.

Cognition (Jñāna), Imperceptibility of Soul and Mind, and the Mechanism of Knowledge Chapter 8 of Vaiśeṣika philosophy explores the nature of cognition, asserting it as a real event with specific causes. Cognition arises from the conjunction of soul, sense organ, object, and mind, with dravya (substance) being the cause of cognition of its inherent qualities (guṇas) and actions (karmas). The chapter also examines the relationship between generality and particularity, the role of qualifiers in knowledge of dravya, and the sequential order of knowledge.

Textual Study of Chapter 8, Section 2 Knowledge based on information stored in the mind is discussed, highlighting the need for prior experience to understand terms like ‘this’. The nature of sense organs and their objects is explained, with the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether) serving as the material cause of the five sense organs.

Information, Memory, Meaning, and the Material Basis of Sense Organs Knowledge sometimes requires stored information, as seen in statements like “this is that person” or “feed him,” which depend on prior knowledge. Recognition requires previous perception, and words refer to objects, qualities, and actions. The human body is primarily earth-based, and each sense organ is made from the material whose quality it perceives.

Textual Study of Chapter 9, Section 1 The text discusses five types of absence: prebirth absence (prāgabhāva), post-mortal absence (dhvansābhāva), mutual absence (anyonyābhāva), absolute nonexistence (atyantābhāva), and the perception of absence. Prebirth absence refers to the absence of motion and quality in an object before its production. Post-mortal absence refers to the absence of an object after its destruction. The text discusses the perception of absolute non-existence (atyantābhāva) in two ways: by stating an object never existed or by stating it is non-existent. It also explores the perception of immaterial substances like the soul and paramāṇu (atomic particles) through samādhi (meditative state) and the continuous self-realization of perfected yogis. Additionally, it mentions that yogis perceive the inherent qualities (guṇas) and actions (karma) of these substances. The perception of soul’s qualities is inherent in the soul.

The Four Types of Absence (Abhāva) and the Perception of Non Existence Vaiśeṣika Darśana explores the doctrine of abhāva (absence), treating it as a real category with distinct types and causes. The lecture outlines four types of absence: prāgabhāva (pre-birth absence), dhvansābhāva (post-mortal absence), anyonyābhāva (mutual absence), and atyantābhāva (absolute non-existence). It also discusses how absence is perceived, emphasizing the role of memory and contrast, and highlights the extraordinary perceptual abilities of Yogīs.

Textual Study of Chapter 9, Section 2 This section discusses inference as a means of cognition, explaining it as knowledge of cause and effect, conjunction and opposition, and inherent qualities. It also compares inference to Śābda (statement of a Ṛṣi) and explains that both are means to knowledge. The section concludes by discussing memory, dreams, and the causes of attraction to the visible world.

Inference (Anumāna), Verbal Testimony, Memory, Dreams, Avidyā, and Ṛṣi Knowledge The lecture explores Vaiśeṣika’s epistemology, focusing on inference (anumāna) as a means of knowledge. It explains the five types of inferential relations and how inference relies on observation, memory, and universal relations. The lecture also touches on śābda (authoritative testimony), memory, dreams, and the distinction between vidyā (true knowledge) and avidyā (ignorance).

Textual Study of Chapter 10, Section 1 This chapter explores the nature of pleasure and pain, distinguishing them from knowledge. Pleasure and pain arise from attachment and aversion, while knowledge is derived from sensory perception and inference. The chapter also addresses the question of why different body parts, despite having the same cause, exhibit distinct characteristics.

Pleasure, Pain, Their Causes, and Their Distinction from Knowledge Kaṇāda examines the guṇas of the soul, focusing on pleasure (sukha) and pain (duḥkha). He argues that pleasure and pain arise from different causes (favorable and unfavorable experiences) and are mutually exclusive, unlike knowledge which arises from perception and inference. Kaṇāda further distinguishes pleasure and pain from knowledge, asserting that they are not forms of cognition but arise from internal dispositions like rāga and dveṣa.

The Three Causes: Inherent, Non Inherent, and Efficient (Samavāyī, Asamavāyī, Nimitta) The threefold theory of causation in Vaiśeṣika Darśana includes samavāyī (inherent cause), asamavāyī (non-inherent cause), and nimitta (efficient cause). Samavāyī causes are inseparable, asamavāyī causes are qualities or actions inherent in the samavāyī cause, and nimitta causes are external forces initiating transformation. This theory is foundational for later Indian logic and metaphysics.

Textual Study of Chapter 10, Section 2 This section discusses three causes: inherent, non-inherent, and efficient. Inherent causes are inherent in the effect, while non-inherent causes are actions, qualities, or conjunctions inherent in the inherent cause. Efficient causes are external factors like heat that bring about the effect.

Comparative Atomism: Vaiśeṣika, Greek, and Modern Physics The lecture compares Vaiśeṣika atomism, Greek atomism, and modern physics, highlighting their differing motivations, structures, and purposes. Vaiśeṣika atomism is metaphysical and spiritual, Greek atomism is materialist and mechanistic, and modern physics is scientific and empirical. Despite their differences, all three traditions agree on the existence of fundamental units composing the world.

National Advancement Through Understanding Dravya–Guṇas Kaṇāda, a philosopher from over two thousand years ago, proposed that understanding the properties of substances (dravya) and their qualities (guṇa) leads to societal advancement. He argued that knowledge of the natural world should be applied to improve agriculture, medicine, engineering, and governance, ultimately leading to national prosperity. Kaṇāda’s vision anticipated the scientific method and emphasized the ethical application of science for human welfare and dharma.

Ṛtambharā Prajñā: Truth Bearing Intuition Beyond Perception and Inference Ṛtambharā prajñā, a concept in Indian epistemology, is a form of knowledge considered superior to perception and inference. It arises from a purified mind and reveals truths about the soul, cosmos, and ultimate reality. This knowledge, acknowledged in Yoga, Sāṅkhya, and Vaiśeṣika, is seen as self-evident and forms the basis of Ṛṣi knowledge and Vedic authority.

Indian Foundation of Vedic Science

Note: Participants of the course are free to join Live Zoom Sunday Discussion Sessions starting every Sunday at 9:30 AM (New York time) to Ask Questions related to the Course or any question on Hinduism from an Expert. This is free of cost.

Zoom Link: join Live Zoom Sunday Discussion Session

Zoom Meeting ID: 813 3077 7352

Zoom Passcode: shantihi

Assessment details

Certificate in Vaiśeṣika Darśana: Scriptural Conceptions of Matter, Mind and Consciousness

Indian Foundation of Vedic Science

Note: Participants of the course are free to join Live Zoom Sunday Discussion Sessions starting every Sunday at 9:30 AM (New York time) to Ask Questions related to the Course or any question on Hinduism from an Expert. This is free of cost.

Zoom Link: join Live Zoom Sunday Discussion Session

Zoom Meeting ID: 813 3077 7352

Zoom Passcode: shantihi

Assessment details

Lectures