Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s10.t12.2

v1.c7.s10.t12.2

*Samkhya-karika* contained in *Hiran Yasaptati* and its corresponding reference think that everything in the world or life phenomenon is changed from the interaction or combination of two entities. These two entities are Prakriti and Purusha. Prakriti, also known as “nature”, is the entity of materiality. Purusha, also known as “Atman”, is the entity of spirituality. Both are the fundamental causes to create things, therefore they are called as “two realities”. When Purusha acts on Prakriti, Prakriti interior will begin to change and gradually develop a variety of phenomena in the world. Prakriti first evolves consciousness (be equivalent to the rationality or intellectuality which is deterministic and crucial), then consciousness evolves “me” (that is self-awareness or ego), and on one hand, “me” evolves “eleven organs” (eye, ear, nose, tongue, skin, voice, hand, foot, excretory organ, reproductive organ and heart), on the other hand, it also evolves “five subtle elements” (sight, sound, smell, taste and touch). Finally, “five subtle elements” create five gross elements (earth, water, fire, wind and space). Thus, Prakriti, Purusha, consciousness, me, eleven organs, five subtle elements and five gross elements form the so-called “twenty-five truths”.