Is There 'Self' Identity in Sâmkhya and OEankara?

Abstract

hile underdeveloped as an academic field, Indian philosophical language has permeated Western imagination. However, as concepts such as yoga, karma, or reincarnation enter Western discourse, they tend to be appropriated in a manner that bolsters pre-determined notions of selfhood rather than representing anything “Indian”. Thus, these discourses often reveal more about Western ways of thinking. This paper analyzes the concept of ‘self’ as developed within early Sanskrit texts, including the Sâmkhyakârika and the writings of Vedântin thinker Úankara, to argue that Western notions of selfhood present an entirely inadequate frame through which to interpret “Indian” self-identity.