Vedānta Darśana and the Concept of Consciousness
June 1, 2026 R. Adarsh K.
This chapter argues that the concept of consciousness (Cetanā or Puruṣa) in Ayurveda is rooted in Vedāntic metaphysics, where an absolute non-dual consciousness manifests into biological functions governing cognition, perception, and vitality (Āyu). Through textual analysis of classical Indian orthodox schools and manuscript evidence, the authors propose a model linking fundamental consciousness to physiological homeostatic systems, offering insights for psychosomatic therapeutics and integrative healthcare. The work synthesizes traditional philosophy with modern mind-body medicine and neural science, contending that this framework provides deep epistemological insights for advanced therapeutics.