epistemology - dr. james k. herndon

How do YOU

know ??

Epistemology…

Yoga-KnowingIntegral Insights from

Radhakrishnan’s Epistemology,and the Intuitive-Yogic Connection

J.K.K. HerndonUniversity of Pune

when

why

The Process of Philosophy… The Grand Lines of Philosophy…

and their Related Questions

University of MarylandUniversity College, Asia Division

J.K.K. Herndon, Assistant Professor

How do you know ??

In a Nutshell…I. Whole-Person Knowing – what Radhakrishnan calls integral experience – is a legitimate form of epistemology.

II. These realms of knowing categorized by Radhakrishnan bear a striking correspondence to the fourfold elements of the complete human personality identified by Patanjali.

III. It follows that theseassociated epistemological domainscan be further developed and even strengthened over time by employing the appropriately compatible yogic practices.

““May our study impartMay our study impartthat inward light!that inward light!

May it grant us the powerMay it grant us the powerto stir the soul to effort!”to stir the soul to effort!”

Motto, Andhra UniversityMotto, Andhra University((UpaniṣadsUpaniṣads))

Integral ExperienceWhole-person knowing

“…the reaction of the whole man to the whole reality.”

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

“…it is the whole mindthat will reach the whole object.”

The heart has its reasons,that reason can never know.

Blasé Pascal - L 423/S 680

Blasé Pascal

“We know truth,not only by the reason,but also by the heart,

and it is in this last waythat we know

first principles…”

“The two operations of our understanding,intuition and deduction…

on which alone we have said we must relyin the acquisition of knowledge.”

Rene Descartes

The Epistemic Two-Step…

1. Intuited SparkEffortless

InvoluntaryEnjoyable

2. Rational DevelopmentArduous

IntentionalDaunting

Aldous Huxley – Perennial Philosophy…

“Human beings are capable not merely of knowing about the Divine Ground by inference; they can also realize its existence by a direct intuition, superior to discursive reasoning. This immediate knowledge unites the knower with that which is known.”

Huxley goes on to explain that this knowledge is “of the heart – a super-rational intuition – direct, synthetic and timeless.”

Introduction, Bhagavad-Gita, pp. 13-15

“The only real valuable thing is intuition.”

Albert Einstein

What is Man…

that Thou art mindful of him ?

INDIVIDUALITY

Mind / BodySpiritual / Physical

Psychic / Biological Being / Non-Being

Self / self

NON - DIVIDED – DUALITY

Lower MindBiological

Sensory Knowledgeself – individual consciousness

Higher MindPsychic

Intuitive KnowledgeSelf – universal consciousness

Radhakrishnan’sFourfold Domainsof Epistemology

Ordinary SensesEmotive IntuitionRational IntuitionSpiritual Intuition

Patanjali’sFourfold Categories

of Human Personality

Active ElementEmotional ElementRational Element

Volitional Element

ClassicalFourfold Varietiesof Yoga Practice

Karma YogaBhakti YogaJnana YogaRaja Yoga

Yoga Knowing…

ELEMENT: PRACTICE: DOMAIN:

Active Karma Senses

Emotional Bhakti Emotive

Rational Jnana Rational

Volitional Rāja Spiritual

How many senses do you have ?

65

Nothing we use or hear or touchcan be expressed in wordsthat equal what we aregiven by the senses.

Hannah Arendt

Karma Yoga – The Path of Action

“…no one can remain even for a moment without doing work;

every one is made to act…”

Bhagavad-Gītā 3:5

““The eye cannot choose but see,The eye cannot choose but see,We cannot bid the ear be still,We cannot bid the ear be still,

Our bodies will feel where’er they be,Our bodies will feel where’er they be,Against or with our will.”Against or with our will.”

WordsworthWordsworth

“Some offer hearingand the other senses

into the fires of restraint;

Some offer soundand the other objects of sense

into the fires of sense;

Some offer all the works of the senses…into the fire of the yoga of self-control…”

Bhagavad-Gītā 4.27

Offering The Works of the Senses

“…a sincere personcontrols the senses…

and engages theorgans of action

in the path of work…”

Bhagavad-Gītā 3.7

The Senses & Karma-Yoga

““May our study impartMay our study impartthat inward light!that inward light!

May it grant us the powerMay it grant us the powerto stir the soul to effort!”to stir the soul to effort!”

Motto, Andhra UniversityMotto, Andhra University((UpaniṣadsUpaniṣads))

…is most suitablefor him who is

neither very tired of,nor very attached to,

the world.”

Bhāgavata XI.20.7

Bhakti Yoga – The Path of Devotion

“…the wise one,who is ever in constant union with the Divine,

whose devotion is single-minded,

is the best.

For I am supremely dear to him, and he is dear to Me.”

Bhagavad-Gītā 7.17

(samādhi can be attained)

…by devotion to Īśvara.

Yoga Sutras 1:23

Bhakti Yoga - The Path of Devotion

knowledge ofthe ultimate reality…

is born of realization

Yoga Sutras 3:53

Jñāna Yoga – The Path of Knowledge

“Ignorance can be defined as regarding the perishable

as the imperishable, the impure as the pure,

unhappiness as happiness, and the non-self

as the self.”

Patanjali Yoga Sutras II:5

The Path ofSpiritual Vision

as the master’s head is crowned with light

…spiritual vision is gained.

Yoga Sutras 3:33

How beautifully likenedWe are to the moon,In each of us shinethThe light of the sun.

“When the five senses of perceptiontogether with the mind are at rest,

when even the intellecthas ceased to function…

that, say the sages,is the supreme state.”

Katha Upaniṣad 111:10

Without Vision…My people perish

Darshan… by Divine Decree

What Time is it?

Philosophy Must Change Us…

All you have been, and seen, and done and thought,All you have been, and seen, and done and thought,Not you but I, have seen and been and wrought…Not you but I, have seen and been and wrought…

Pilgrim, pilgrimage and Road,Pilgrim, pilgrimage and Road,Was but Myself toward Myself;Was but Myself toward Myself;

And your arrival, but Myself at My own door…And your arrival, but Myself at My own door…Come, you lost Atoms, to your centre draw…Come, you lost Atoms, to your centre draw…Rays that have wandered into darkness wide,Rays that have wandered into darkness wide,

Return, and back into your Sun subside.Return, and back into your Sun subside.

QUESTIONS