The six darshanas: ways of seeing truth · षड्दर्शन

Darśana means "seeing". Hindu philosophy is not one system but six classical schools — and their rivals — each a different way of seeing reality. From atoms to logic to the Self, here is the map of Indian philosophy.

[Historical scholarship]

The six āstika darśanas accept the authority of the Vedas, and are traditionally grouped in pairs: Nyaya and Vaisheshika (logic and atomism), Samkhya and Yoga (consciousness and matter, and the path of meditation), Mimamsa and Vedanta (Vedic ritual and the knowledge of Brahman). Each has a root text of sutras, explained by centuries of commentary.

[Historical scholarship]

Every Indian school begins with a question modern philosophers call epistemology: what are the valid means of knowledge — the pramāṇas? The schools disagree, and their disagreement shapes everything else…

• The pramanas
• The six schools
• The dissenting voices
• Kanada's atoms — and a caution
• What we can learn

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• Nyaya Sutras — Gautama
• Vaisheshika Sutras — Kanada
• Samkhya Karika — Ishvarakrishna
• Yoga Sutras — Patanjali
• Mimamsa Sutras — Jaimini
• Brahma Sutras — Badarayana
• Sarvadarshana Sangraha