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II. On the Philosophy of the Hindus. Part I. By Hexry Thomas 

 CoLEBROOKE, Esq., Director R.A.S., F.R.S., S^c. 



Read June 21, 1823. 



Introduction. 



The Hindus, as is well known, possess various ancient systems of philo- 

 sophy, which they consider to be orthodox, as consistent with the theology 

 and metaphysics of the Vedas ; and have likewise preserved divers systems 

 deemed heretical, as incompatible with the doctrines of their holy books. 



The two Mmdnsds (for there are two schools of metaphysics under this 

 title) are emphatically orthodox. The prior one (purva) which has Jaimini 

 for its founder, teaches the art of reasoning, with the express view of aiding 

 the interpretation of the Vedas. The latter {TJ'ttard) commonly called 

 Veddnta, and attributed to Vyasa, deduces from the text of the Indian 

 scriptures, a refined psychology, which goes to a denial of a material 

 world. 



The Nydya, of which Gotama is the acknowledged author, furnishes a 

 philosophical arrangement, with strict rules of reasoning, not unaptly com- 

 pared to the dialectics of the Aristotelian school. Another course of 

 philosophy connected with it bears the denomination of Vaiseshica. Its 

 reputed author is Canade ; who, like Democritus, maintained the doctrine 

 of atoms. 



A different philosophical system, partly heterodox, and partly conforma- 

 ble to the established Hindu creed, is the Sdnc'hya : of which also, as of 

 the preceding, there are two schools ; one usually known by that name ; 

 the other commonly termed Yoga. A succinct exposition of the Sdnc'hya 

 doctrines is the design of the present essay : they are selected for that pur- 

 pose, on account of the strong affinity which they manifestly bear to the 

 metaphysical opinions of the sects of J/na and Biidd'ha. 



Though not strictly orthodox, both Sdnc'hyas and the Vaiseshica, as 

 well as the Nydya, are respected and studied by very rigid adherents of the 

 Vedas, who are taught, however, to reject so much as disagrees, and trea- 

 sure up what is consonant to their scriptui'es. " In Canade's doctrine, in 

 " the Sdnc'hya, and in the Yoga, that part, which is inconsistent with the 



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