Hinduism · branch

Samkhya-Yoga

A dualism of consciousness and nature in which liberation is the disentangling of the two, achieved by a precisely specified discipline. God is an optional element — Samkhya proper does without one — which puts A1 unusually low for the family.

What makes it unusual

The axes on which this tradition sits furthest from the middle of the matrix — which is to say, the positions that actually distinguish it.

C2 Shape of timecyclical returnFurther toward "cyclical return" than most traditions in the matrix.
E2 Origin of the cosmosbeginningless or naturalFurther toward "beginningless or natural" than most traditions in the matrix.
D3 The bodyto be disciplinedFurther toward "to be disciplined" than most traditions in the matrix.
A2 Personhoodleaning impersonal principle or orderFurther toward "impersonal principle or order" than most traditions in the matrix.

All seventeen positions

Each cell carries a centre, a dispersion — how much internal variation the tradition genuinely tolerates — and the source the position rests on. Disagree with one? Say so; corrections are public and recorded.

The same seventeen values as a single shape, read clockwise from A1 at the top. The outline is where the tradition sits; the wider band around it is the variation it genuinely tolerates, so a tight outline is a tight tradition.

position
tolerated variation

A · The divine

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
A1 Divine realitynothing beyond the natural → a divine reality certainly exists	between nothing beyond the natural and a divine reality certainly existsPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.58	0.20
A2 Personhoodimpersonal principle or order → a personal being one can address	leaning impersonal principle or orderPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.28	0.16
A3 Pluralitystrictly one → many powers and spirits	leaning strictly onePatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.35	0.18
A4 Locuswholly beyond the world → fully present within it	between wholly beyond the world and fully present within itPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.40	0.18

B · Knowledge and authority

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
B1 Source of truthrevealed and fixed → reason and direct experience	leaning reason and direct experiencePatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.82	0.10
B2 Reading of sacred textliteral and binding → metaphorical, or no text at all	between literal and binding and metaphorical, or no text at allPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.48	0.16
B3 Institutional authorityclergy and tradition decide → individual conscience decides	leaning clergy and tradition decidePatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.32	0.16

C · Self and destiny

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
C1 Survival of the selfends at death → continues in some form	continues in some formPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.92	0.06
C2 Shape of timeone life, then judgment → cyclical return	cyclical returnPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.90	0.07
C3 The human conditionfallen and in need of rescue → ignorant but fundamentally sound	ignorant but fundamentally soundPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.88	0.08

D · Practice

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
D1 Mechanism of the ultimate goodgiven as grace → achieved by effort or insight	achieved by effort or insightPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.92	0.06
D2 Centrality of ritualessential and prescribed → optional or absent	between essential and prescribed and optional or absentPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.55	0.16
D3 The bodyto be disciplined → to be celebrated	to be disciplinedPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.12	0.10

E · World and others

Axis	Position	Value	±σ
E1 Exclusivityone true path → many valid paths	leaning many valid pathsPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.68	0.15
E2 Origin of the cosmosan intentional act → beginningless or natural	beginningless or naturalPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.85	0.10
E3 Locus of belonginga people, inherited → an individual choice	leaning an individual choicePatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.78	0.12
E4 Standing of naturecreation, given for use → animate and itself sacred	between creation, given for use and animate and itself sacredPatanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Samkhyakarika	0.48	0.16

Compared with

Where do you sit?

The questionnaire places your own answers on these same seventeen axes and reports how close you are to this tradition and to 64 others. Take it — eight to fourteen questions, nothing transmitted.