Volume-XII, Special Issue, April 2026 |
দুঃখতত্ত্ব: সাংখ্য দর্শনের মাধ্যমে মানবজীবনের বিশ্লেষণ বিশ্বজিৎ পাসমান, গবেষক, কাজী নজরুল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, দর্শন বিভাগ, আসানসোল, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 05.04.2026 | Accepted: 09.04.2026 | Published Online: 10.04.2026 | Page No: 161-167 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.12.issue.specialW.279 | |||||||
Theory of Suffering: An Analysis of Human Life through Sāṃkhya Philosophy Biswajit Pasman, Research Scholar, Kazi Nazrul University, Department of Philosophy, Asansol, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
Sāṃkhya philosophy is one of the branches of the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy. It is an ancient and fundamental philosophy, founded by the sage Kapila. In Sāṃkhya philosophy, the deepest question of life is the source of suffering (duḥkha) and the path to liberation (moksha) from it. This philosophy analyzes in detail the cause of suffering (duḥkha) and the means of liberation (moksha). The main objective of Sāṃkhya philosophy is to make people understand the nature of suffering (duḥkha) and to show them the path to liberation (moksha) from it. Sāṃkhya philosophy is a dualistic philosophy, which discusses the difference and relationship between Prakṛti (the material world) and Puruṣa (consciousness or the self). The first verse of the Sāṃkhya kārikā mentions this: “Duḥkhatrābhighātājjijñāsā tadapaghātakē hētau” — meaning, due to the affliction of the threefold suffering (duḥkha), there arises an inquiry into the means of its removal (i.e., the method taught in Sāṃkhya philosophy). Suffering (duḥkha) is a natural part of human life, which is the result of the regular functioning of nature. From birth to death, we encounter various kinds of suffering (duḥkha)—physical, mental, and environmental. However, this suffering (duḥkha) is not permanent; liberation from suffering (duḥkha) is possible through right knowledge and consciousness. In this essay, we will analyze various aspects of the theory of suffering (duḥkha) in Sāṃkhya philosophy—the source of suffering (duḥkha), its types, its impact on human life, and the path to liberation. Additionally, it will be discussed how this philosophy remains relevant in modern life. | ||
Keywords: Suffering, Liberation, Discipline, Self-conscious, Prakṛti, Puruṣa, Spiritual Development |