Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.24

c16.24

**Views of other Philosophers: Sureśvara.** Sureśvara presents his scheme as follows. To achieve liberation (*naishkarmasiddhi*), one must destroy his ignorance which is non-realization of the unity of Self. This cannot be done by performance of religious rites which can, however, help it indirectly by purifying the mind by detaching it from all pleasures of this world or the next, as they are found to be ephemeral. Thence arises *vairāgya*, renunciation, followed by meditation on Vedic texts like "*Tat Tvam asi*." Another help towards this consummation is stated to be *ashṭāṅga-yoga* by which consciousness of external objects is lost. These eight *aṅgas* or factors of Yoga are (1) *Yama*, "restraints in the form of virtues like *ahiṁsā*, non-violence, and *santosha* or *aparigraha*, continence"; (2) *Niyama*, "observances like cleanliness, *śaucha*, sacrifices, repeating of Mantras, pouring of libations into fire, offerings to forefathers, charity, fasts, etc.";