Overview
Darśana-Śāstra (Philosophical Treatise) was written by Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in 1895 for Sajjana-Toṣaṇi, Vol.7. Issue 1. In this short article, Bhaktivinoda discusses the link between the Six Darśanas of India and the philosophies of the Ancient Greeks. He also briefly discusses the origins of Egyptian mummification.
(translated by Swami B.V. Giri)
The darśana–śāstra was born in India, of this there is no doubt. Although darśana (philosophy) is in fact multifaceted, through deliberation, gross and subtle matters (sthūla-sukṣma viṣaya) have been divided into six categories. In India these six categories are called ṣaḍ–darśana. These six darśanas were respected in Greece. Through intensive research, Professor Garbe of Prussia has ascertained that Aristotle was a follower of Gautama’s Nyāya-śāstra, Thales was a follower of Kanāda’s Vaiśeṣika–śāstra, Socrates was a follower of Jaimini’s Mīmāṁsā-śāstra, Plato was a follower of Vyāsa’s Vedānta, Pythagoras was a follower of Kapila’s Sāṅkhya-śāstra, and Xeno was a follower of Pataṅjali’s Yoga–śāstra. It will be gradually become known when and under what circumstances all these Greek paṇḍitas came to India for education.
In the Chāndogya Upaniṣad, in the narrative of Prajāpati’s teachings to Indra and Virocana, it is clear that Virocana accepted the gross Mleccha mentality and considered this material body as the ātmā, teaching his students the system of preservation of the material body after death. Apparently, his Egyptian followers taught the practice of mummification in their homeland. In other Mleccha countries, by changing that custom a little, burial has become the general rule. As scientific śāstra develops, all these things will become clearer.
(‘Darśana-Śāstra – Philosophical Treatise’ by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura was first published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi Vol.& Issue 1 in 1895 and translated into English by Swami B.V. Giri)
More Articles by Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Prayāsa (Over endeavouring)
This article "Prayāsa (Over-endeavouring)" is the second of a series of articles published in the 10th Volume of Sajjana Toṣaṇī which deals with the six things that are favourable to bhakti and the six things that are unfavourable according to the second and third verses of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Upadeśāmṛta. This second article deals with Prayāsa – Over-endeavouring and how it can become a serious obstacle to the free flow of bhakti.
Utsāha (Enthusiasm)
This article Utsāha (enthusiasm) is the seventh in a series of articles published in the 10th Volume of Sajjana Toṣaṇī which deals with the six things that are favourable to bhakti and the six things that are unfavourable according to the second and third verses of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Upadeśāmṛta. This seventh article deals with Utsāha – enthusiasm – Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains that without genuine enthusiasm (utsāha) one becomes negligent in bhakti.
Who is a Māyāvādī? (Māyāvādī Kāhāke Bali?)
In Māyāvādī Kāhāke Bali? (Who is a Māyāvādī?), published in Sajjana Toṣaṇi, Vol.5, Issue 12 in 1894, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Thākura explains in detail why māyāvādīs are considered to be offenders to Kṛṣṇa, and why their so-called displays of devotion are useless.
On 18th August 2012, on the occasion of his Vyāsa Pūjā, Śrīla Bhakti Gaurava Narasiṅgha Mahārāja announced to the devotees that he had a strong desire to create a website called “Bhaktivinoda Institute” in honour of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and his teachings in order to preserve and propagate them. 
