| From The River Of Heaven |
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| Books By David Frawley |
| DHARMIC PHILOSOPHIES : THEORIES OF TRUTH |
| The prime texts
or Sutras of these different systems are written in a very succinct language that rarely
can be understood without a commentary. Hence each of them has a primary commentary that
is usually consulted. For example, Vyasa wrote the prime commentary on the YOGA SUTRAS.
Shankara and Ramanuja wrote the main commentaries on the BRAHMA SUTRAS. These commentaries
and some of the Sutras are usually much more recent than the original teachings most of
which were already in existence by the time of the Buddha. Nor is their any unanimous
agreement on interpretation of these Sutras by their commentators. The different
commentators may also disagree with or refute each other. Sankhya and Yoga usually go together as Sankhya is the basic philosophy behind the classical yoga system. Vedanta and Mimamsa go together as Mimamsa is the ritual interpretation of the Vedas and Vedanta the knowledge or spiritual interpretation. Nyaya and Vaisheshika also go together as more mental or intellectual systems. The main Buddhist philosophies are Sautrantika, Vijnanavada and Shunyavada. The Shunyavada system, based on the work of Nagarjuna, teachings the voidness of all reality. The Vijnanavada system, mainly of Vasubandhu, teaches the nature of reality as pure consciousness. The Sautrantika system teaches the momentary nature of all phenomenon. A number of syncretic Hindu-Buddhist teachings arose, combining both together. This occurred more commonly in Indonesia and Indochina in medieval times, perhaps also central Asia. It is still very common in Nepal today where both Hindu and Buddhist deities and yogis are worshipped together. However, no unified Hindu-Buddhist philosophical teachings remain, though some have attempted this in modern times. Generally Hindu teachers accept Buddhism but seldom vice versa.
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