Department of Philosophy

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The Department of Philosophy, University of North Bengal has been awarded Special Assistance by UGC to carry on research on ‘The Problem of Meaning in Classical Indian Philosophy and Contemporary Western Philosophy’ including translation of Sanskrit texts into regional language.
Department of Philosophy, North Bengal University, Siliguri, is one of the very accomplished centers of learning and research in Philosophy. Siliguri is surrounded by four countries and the nearest Bagdogra airport is five KM, and the New Jalpaiguri railway station is 18 KM away from University campus. We pride ourselves in being a department where equal emphasis is placed on quality research as well as on development and training of students through teaching/learning and extensive teacher-student interaction.

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    Transformation of Consciousness and Cognition-Only: Vasubandhu’s Perspective (A Study in Vasubandhu’s Viṃśatikā- Kārikā-[Vṛtti])
    (University of North Bengal, 2025) Bora, Shakuntala
    In Viṃśatikā-Kārikā-[Vṛtti], we see Vasubandhu arguing that all worlds are actually nothing but mind only. Vasubandhu demonstrates that objects cannot really be regarded as existing. He proves this by showing logical impossibility of regarding object as either a composite whole, or several things, or even as aggregation of atoms. Vasubandhu illustrates that there are in fact no issues in regarding that objects external to mind do not exist. He also formulates his argument that the so-called objects of cognition are transformation of consciousness. According to Vasubandhu, as a matter of fact, it is through understanding of objects and senses being nothing but mere changes in consciousness that one comes upon cognition-only which leads to knowing of its own selflessness and finally to selflessness of events. Vasubandhu finally addresses the question of kind of knowledge in the light of everything being cognition-only. In cognition-only where there is no division of the apprehendor and the apprehended, knowledge stays alone which may be compared to the knowledge of the Buddha.
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    Knowledge and Ending of Theorizing (A Study in Yuktiṣaṣṭika)
    (University of North Bengal, 2021-03) Bora, Shakuntala
    Nāgārjuna says that liberation is attained not with the help of being or nonbeing but by knowledge of being and non-being. We have Nāgārjuna saying: ‘One is not liberated by being (bhāva), one does not [transcend] the being1 (bhāva) by nonbeing (abhāva), [but] by thorough knowledge of being and non-being (bhā vā bhāvaparijn͂ ānāt) the magnanimous (mahātma) are liberated.’2 For Nāgārjuna this state is the very transcendence of being and non-being by understanding: ‘Those whose intelligence (buddhi) has transcended being and non-being and is unsupported have discovered the profound and inobjective meaning of ‘condition’.’3...