2.1: The Methods of Attaining Knowledge
The starting point in philosophical 
discussion is epistemology — establishing the basis of knowledge. Jiva Goswami lists ten methods of attaining knowledge in his Sat-sandharbha, including tradition, history, guessing, comparison, probability, and logic, and shows how all of them fit into three main categories.
- Pratyaksa (direct sense perception): The knowledge we get through the five senses.
- Anumana (mental reasoning): Literally "to follow (anu) the mind (mana)"
- Sabda (authoritive testimony): Literally "sound"
How might you apply each of the methods to finding out the following?
- The size of the sun
- What's on the radio
- Whether or not there really is a Santa Claus
- How long it takes to fry 100 eggplant pakoras
- How the film-makers create their special effects
What uses and limitations do each of the three methods have?
About the Vedic Authority
- The Vedas are like an instruction manual to the material world.
- The creator knows his creation best.
- Inductive (by own strength) and deductive (that comes down) knowledge: if the authority is perfect, then hearing from it is the perfect method.
- We can experiment and come to the same conclusion, but accepting authority will save us time.
- The Vedic knowledge is described as apauruseya (not of man).
- The Vedas are accepted as axiomatic.
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