The Common Threads

Despite enormous diversity, the various Indian philosophical schools share several foundational principles that define the IKS worldview.

1. Purushartha — The Four Goals of Human Life

        ┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
        │       PURUSHARTHA (4 Aims)             │
        ├────────────┬───────────────────────────┤
        │  Dharma    │ Righteousness / Duty      │
        │  Artha     │ Wealth / Prosperity       │
        │  Kama      │ Desire / Pleasure         │
        │  Moksha    │ Liberation / Freedom      │
        └────────────┴───────────────────────────┘

Dharma is the foundation that regulates the pursuit of Artha and Kama, all of which prepare the individual for Moksha — the ultimate goal.

2. The Law of Karma

Karma literally means "action." Every action — physical, verbal, or mental — produces a consequence (phala). This is not punishment by an external judge but an impersonal cosmic law, analogous to Newton's third law in the moral sphere.

3. Samsara and Rebirth

Samsara is the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, propelled by karma. The soul (Atman / Jiva) takes different bodies until it attains Moksha.

4. Rta — Cosmic Order

Rta (later Dharma) is the universal principle of natural and moral order. Truth (Satya), seasons, planetary motions, and ethical action all flow from Rta.

5. Five Mahabhutas (Great Elements)

   ┌──────────┐   ┌──────────┐   ┌──────────┐   ┌──────────┐   ┌──────────┐
   │ Prithvi  │   │  Jala    │   │  Agni    │   │  Vayu    │   │ Akasha   │
   │ (Earth)  │   │ (Water)  │   │  (Fire)  │   │  (Air)   │   │ (Ether)  │
   └────┬─────┘   └────┬─────┘   └────┬─────┘   └────┬─────┘   └────┬─────┘
        │              │              │              │              │
        ▼              ▼              ▼              ▼              ▼
      Smell          Taste          Form          Touch          Sound

Each element corresponds to a sensory faculty and forms the building blocks of both the physical body and the universe. This same scheme appears in Ayurveda, Yoga, and Vastu.

6. Trigunas — The Three Qualities of Nature

All matter and mental states are characterised by three intertwined qualities:

These three are present in everything in different proportions and are central to Ayurveda, Yoga, and the Bhagavad Gita.

7. The Indian Approach to Truth

• Pluralism: "Ekam sat, viprah bahudha vadanti" — Truth is one; the wise call it by many names. (Rig Veda 1.164.46)
• Experiential: Knowledge must be lived (anubhava), not just intellectualised.
• Guru-Shishya parampara: Knowledge transmitted face-to-face from teacher to student through lineages.

8. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

"The world is one family." This Maha Upanishad maxim reflects the IKS commitment to global ethics, hospitality, and pluralism.

Key Terms — Lesson 1.4 (Core Principles)

Almost every IKS paper carries one Purushartha, Karma or Triguna question — these definitions are worth memorising verbatim.

Purushartha — The four legitimate aims of human life: Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha. Dharma — Righteousness / duty; the regulating foundation for the pursuit of Artha and Kama. Moksha — Liberation / freedom from the cycle of rebirth; the ultimate aim. Karma — "Action"; every act produces a consequence (phala) by an impersonal cosmic law. Sanchita / Prarabdha / Agami — Accumulated karma / the portion fruiting in this life / new karma being created now. Samsara — The cycle of birth, death and rebirth, propelled by karma. Rta — The cosmic order from which truth, seasons and moral law flow (later merged into Dharma). Mahabhuta — The five great elements: Prithvi, Jala, Agni, Vayu, Akasha. Triguna — The three qualities of nature: Sattva (clarity), Rajas (activity), Tamas (inertia). Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — "The world is one family"; the IKS maxim of global ethics.

Self-check

1. Which Purushartha regulates the other three? (Dharma)
2. Which type of karma bears fruit in the present life? (Prarabdha)
3. Name the three gunas in order of subtlety. (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas)
4. Which element corresponds to the sense of sound? (Akasha / Ether)
5. From which text is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam"? (Maha Upanishad)