Volume-XI, Issue-II, March 2025 |
The Ultimate Goal of Human Life: Insights from Indian Orthodox Philosophical Schools Biswajit Bag, Asst. Prof, Dept. of Philosophy, Udaynarayanpur Madhabilata Mahavidyalaya, West Bengal, India |
Received: 24.03.2025 | Accepted: 28.03.2025 | Published Online: 31.03.2025 | Page No: 362-368 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.02W.034 | |||||||
ABSTRACT | ||
Humans always desire liberation in their lives, which is the ultimate goal of human existence. This paper explores the concept of the ultimate goal of human life insights from the six Indian orthodox philosophical systems: Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Mīmāṁsā and Vedānta. It examines how each school defines bondage and liberation, the role of knowledge, bhakti, karma and yoga in achieving Mokṣa and the nature of liberated state. While all schools, except Cārvāka, agree that Mokṣa is the complete cessation of suffering and the ultimate goal, they differ in their methods and interpretations. The discussion highlights the Nyāya and Vaiśeṣika emphasis on knowledge, Sāṅkhya’s focus on discriminative knowledge between self and non-self, Yoga’s practical approach, Mīmāṁsā’s evolution from ritualistic attainment of heaven to liberation and Vedānta’s Brahmajñāna and Devotion to God for attaining liberation. Ultimately, this paper provides a complete overview of the diverse pathways to Mokṣa as intended by the orthodox schools of Indian Philosophy. Key words: Mokṣa, Brahmajñāna, Bondage, Ignorance. |