The origins of the doctrine of the pure self in the most ancient concepts of the East

Philosophy

Abstract

This article aims to substantiate the thesis that subjective-oriented (egological) research is not limited to the Western philosophical tradition, but originates in the most ancient concepts of the East. Achieving this objective required analyzing extensive historical and philosophical material. The main concept of Hindu philosophy is “Atman.” In Vedic literature it served as the personal pronoun “I,” denoting the subjective principle inherent in both the natural world and man. The article elaborates on the mythological sources and draws on the teachings of Brahmanism on pure consciousness. According to the Brahmanist tradition, the word “yoga” is interpreted as “concentration.” The first action performed when practicing yoga is fixing the consciousness on a certain place, primarily on the “effulgent” center located in the head, which ensures “directionality” of consciousness and makes it possible to achieve full concentration.

The main object of comprehension here is the doctrine of pure consciousness, and the main purpose is to determine the significance of the provisions of the Brahmanist concept in the light of the formation of the science of egology. Further, the paper discusses the structures of the pure Self using the example of the Buddhist philosophy of “Yogachara.” Egological structures begin to form when consciousness differentiates within itself and generates a variety of experiential content. Consciousness is understood as an intention and purposeful activity, as a kind of predisposition to project something as separate from the self. In conclusion, some results of the transformation of Buddhism in Chinese philosophy are shown. The findings indicate that ancient Eastern concepts of pure consciousness were not dogmatic and rigid constructions. On the contrary, they combined positive egological developments and strict criticism of self-knowledge theories, which complemented each other. Currently, an ongoing philosophical dialog between Buddhism and phenomenology addresses the problem of the being of the “self.” Such cooperation provides an opportunity to more deeply reveal the inner features of egological experience that remain unnoticed when external objects are considered.