Abstract:
India is a country where multiple views of philosophy existed. Pertaining to Buddhist
Literature (Digh p.80) there were sixty two schools of philosophical notions in India, except
Buddhism. The six systems, viz Nydya, Vaisheshika, Sdmkhya, Mim6nsd. and, Vedanta are
prominent between and among them. These philosophical concepts, except Sdmkhya are
besed on Vedic teachings. SEmkhya system is different from those others, because of
accepting dualism. The duality in SEmkhya is the first cause ( Prakryti) and soul (Purusha),
Both in Buddhism and Sdmkhya contain useful and valuable data according to all the
four main branches of Philosophy namely Metaphysics, Epistemology, Ethics and
Cosmology. Buddhism is entirely distinct doctrine not only from Sdmkhya but also from the
other canons in all over the world.
Buddhist and Sdmkhya philosophy focus on emancipation themselves. In accordance
with these two concepts, the followers who wish the weilbeing of the society and to attain
salvation should gain the knowledge for their mindfulness. Absence of knowledge the person
will not be able to develop his mind. A person failing to build mind up becomes danger to
society. Human beings must, therefore, grasp the knowledge for their mindfulness, for
wellbeing of the society. Both Buddhism and Sdmkhya have a specific path for acquiring
knowledge. Buddhism recommends two fold activities such as perception and inference for
grasping the knowledge. The S6mkhya accept these two fold activities referred to in
Buddhism itself and in addition to that the revelation or suiptural testimony. (S.K.a)
Thus the two of these philosophical concepts led their followers to make a peaceful
society and an attempt to discover the liberation by gaining knowledge through these two or
three fold activities. Various similarities and differences can be. seen in connection with
theory of knowledge predicted in these two doctrines. I propose to examine them in this
research.
