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A Series of Lessons on the Inner Teachings of the Philosophies and Religions of India1162
Kapila holds that Purusha is Pure Spirit, or Substantial Transcendental
Intelligence (independent of Manas, or Mind-Stuff), but that it is above
attributes, or qualities (possessing neither), and in its natural condition is
unaffected by joy, pain, or other emotions or sensations (which the soul
experiences by reason of its embodiment in Prakriti which has evolved mind,
sense-organs, etc.); and is in nature and pure condition, until, entangled in
Prakriti, it dwells in a state of pure bliss, peace, and rest, engaged in absolute
meditation which is “the knowing of nothing.” When the soul becomes
involved in material existence, through its connection with Prakriti, it
illuminates the mental and physical organism and faculties with its “spiritual
light,” and the soul is enabled to enter into its existence of experience, or
personal life, in the physical world. It acts upon the Prakriti as a Magnet upon
bits of steel, magnetizing them and giving to them power which they did not
before possess, and which they could not possess without being in its “field
of influence” or induction. But it is held to possess no actual volition of its
own, and is therefore unable to express itself except through, and by means
of, the various forms and phases of Prakriti. The involvement of the Purusha
in the body of the Prakriti produces what is called a “soul,” that is a Purusha
surrounded with its mental environment and instruments and organization.
And the soul becomes subject to the laws of “Samsara” (which is the Sanscrit
term implying “The Cycle of Existence”), with its chain of Cause and Effect;
Karmic Results, and Rebirths. And Samsara brings pain to the soul, and the
effort of the imprisoned Purusha is to free itself and return once more to
its state of bliss. And, therefore, the effort of the teaching is to bring to
the imprisoned and suffering Purusha the means of Liberation, so that it
may pass beyond Samsara, Rebirth, Karma, and Experience, and regain its
normal and natural state of unconscious freedom and bliss, beyond change
and pain, of which “dreamless sleep” is the physical symbol.
The Sankhya System holds that the Purushas were originally in a state
of pure spiritual existence, freed from the attraction of Prakriti, and from
the desires of material life. But that being attracted and seduced by the