Returning to the topic of what is hindu and what is non- hindu,
The compound ?Hindu philosophy? is ambiguous. Minimally it stands for a tradition of Indian philosophical thinking. However, it could be interpreted as designating one comprehensive philosophical doctrine, shared by all Hindu thinkers. The term ?Hindu philosophy? is often used loosely in this philosophical or doctrinal sense, but this usage is misleading.
I would like to point out that Surya Deva has in fact used this concept of hinduism many times on this forum, in threads like “Is yoga hinduism” and “I am no longer hindu” (which he started after the hindus kicked him out of their forum). Now when it suits his purpose, he uses another definition. Now under that new definition, I cannot hope to win that argument, however a little clarification will show that what I said is valid, though controversial.
There have been different interpretations of the historical development of Samkhya philosophy. Some, including Dr Zimmer, and Dr Garbe, believed that Samkhya philosophy developed outside of the Vedic system and was later adopted by the Vedic thinkers, although in a modified form, since the non-Aryan and non-Vedic Samkhya contained elements that were contrary to the Vedic religion. This view is supported by references in the Mahabharata to a large body of Samkhya literature. Vijnana Bhiksu, author of the most extensive commentary on the Samkhya Pravachana Sutram, also referred to this body of literature. He stated that in his time (roughly fourteenth century), only a sixteenth part of it remained. It was from this remnant that he reconstructed the Samkhya Pravachana Sutram, which is now all that remains of it.
It is this important document that Gerald Larson and his followers like Surya Deva choose to ignore, ostensibly because they can no longer reconstruct it from original sources. However in my opinion this continues the active suppression of this literature by the Vedantins who dominate modern hinduism. This started with Sankara, who fought against it vigorously, and there can be no denying this. Vijnana Bhiksu also mentioned this suppression, and in my opinion, it continues to this very day with Surya Deva and others of his persuasion.
