The luminous self: Indian theories of consciousness and their philosophical relevance today

Three major Indian theories of consciousness—Advaita Vedānta, Sāṃkhya-Yoga, and Buddhist traditions—offer non-reductionist models that remain relevant to contemporary philosophy of mind, phenomenology, and cognitive science. Advaita's non-dual self-luminous ātman, Sāṃkhya's dualistic passive puruṣas, and the Buddhist doctrine of anattā with a luminous, non-substantial mind each conceptualize consciousness beyond materialist paradigms. The article argues that these classical models, drawn from texts like the Upaniṣads and Yoga Sūtras, critically engage with modern issues such as the 'Hard problem' of consciousness, panpsychism, and self-illusion theories, and can transform global understanding of subjectivity and the self.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article presents a comparative philosophical investigation into three major Indian theories of consciousness, Advaita Vedānta, Sāṃkhya-Yoga, and Buddhist traditions and examines their enduring relevance to contemporary debates in the philosophy of mind, phenomenology, and cognitive science. Focusing on the motif of consciousness as “luminous,” the article analyses Advaita’s doctrine of non-dual self-luminous ātman, Sāṃkhya’s dualistic plurality of passive puruṣas, and the Buddhist doctrine of anattā alongside the evolving concept of a luminous, non-substantial mind. Through close readings of classical texts such as the Upaniṣads, Sāṃkhya Kārikā, Yoga Sūtras, and key Buddhist discourses, as well as modern interpretations, the study illuminates how these traditions conceptualise consciousness beyond reductionist or materialist paradigms. The article also evaluates how these models engage with or anticipate contemporary issues, including the ‘Hard problem’ of consciousness, panpsychism, self-illusion theories, and phenomenological accounts of subjectivity. By situating Indian philosophical insights within global discourse, the paper argues for their critical potential to transform our understanding of consciousness, subjectivity, and the self.