Ancient Wisdom, Modern Thought

Yogic philosophy offers a radical reorientation of the mind-body problem, challenging Western dualistic frameworks and physicalist assumptions. Drawing from ancient sources like the Upaniṣads, Yoga Sūtras, and Tantric texts, as well as modern theories such as the filter thesis and dual-aspect monism, the article argues that yogic models treat consciousness as the foundational reality from which both mind and body emerge, dissolving simplistic binaries. Yogic disciplines like meditation, mantra, and breathwork function as experiential technologies for participating in the nature of consciousness. Integrating ancient and modern perspectives can transcend divisions between East and West, science and spirituality, toward a transformed understanding of consciousness and the mind-body relationship.

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Abstract

Abstract This article examines the intersections between Indian yogic philosophy and contemporary Western theories of consciousness, arguing that yogic models offer a radical reorientation of the mind-body problem. While Western philosophy has traditionally framed mind and body as separate or as reducible to one another, yogic philosophy offers alternative models that challenge or bypass the dualistic frameworks of Descartes and the physicalist assumptions of modern neuroscience. Drawing from ancient sources such as the Upaniṣads, the Yoga Sūtras, and Tantric texts, alongside modern theories like the filter thesis and dual-aspect monism, this article demonstrates how yogic philosophy reframes the “hard problem” of consciousness – dissolving simplistic binaries and treating consciousness as the foundational reality from which both mind and body emerge. It further explores how yogic disciplines such as meditation, mantra, and breathwork function as experiential technologies for participating in, rather than merely theorizing about, the nature and structure of consciousness. Ultimately, the article proposes that by integrating ancient and modern perspectives, we can transcend the divisions between “East” and “West,” “ancient” and “modern,” and science and spirituality, moving toward a transformed understanding of consciousness and the mind-body relationship.