Editing Spiritual evolution (section)

===Neo-Vedanta===
{{Main|Neo-Vedanta}}

According to Gosling, [[Swami Vivekananda]] based most of his cosmological and biological ideas on [[Samkhya]].{{sfn|Gosling|2011|p=345–347-348–353}} Influenced by western thought and esotericism,{{sfn|Mackenzie Brown|2020|p=175}} Vivekananda and [[Sri Aurobindo]] developed a view on [[reincarnation]] in which an [[Involution (esoterism)|involution]] of the Divine into matter takes place, and the person has to evolve over multiple lives until the Divine gains recognition of its true nature and [[Moksha|liberation]] is attained.{{sfn|Mackenzie Brown|2020|p=124}}{{sfn|Gosling|2011}}

[[Samkhya]] is one of the six systems of Hindu philosophy; proto-Samkhya ideas can be found in the Upanishads, Jainism, and Buddhism. Samkhya posits two ontological entities, ''Purusha'' (witness-consciousness) and ''prakriti'' ('nature'), which includes mind, congnition, and the perceived objects). According to Samkhya, when ''purusha'' comes into proximity with ''prakriti'' it disturbs the equilibrium of ''prakriti''. As a result, a number of successive essences called ''[[tattva]]s'' evolve from ''prakriti''. The most subtle tattwas emerge first, then progressively grosser ones, each in a particular order, and finally the elements and the organs of sense. Adherents of samkhya-[[Yoga]] adhere to the release of purusha from ''prakriti'', and the return of ''prakriti'' to the unmanifest condition.<ref>Gerard J. Larson, (1979) ''Classical Samkhya'' (Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi, 2nd. Ed.</ref>

[[Sri Aurobindo]] and [[Pierre Teilhard de Chardin]] both describe a progression from inanimate matter to a future state of Divine consciousness. Teilhard de Chardin refers to this as the [[Omega Point]], and Sri Aurobindo as the [[Supermind (Integral thought)|Supermind]].<ref>Sri Aurobindo (1977) ''The Life Divine'', (Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust), {{ISBN|0-941524-62-0}} (hardcover), {{ISBN|0-941524-61-2}} (paperback)</ref><ref>Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1955), ''The Phenomenon of Man'', (New York:Harper & Row), {{ISBN|0-06-090495-X}}</ref>

Teilhard, who was a [[Jesuit]] [[Paleontology|Paleontologist]] who played an important role in the discovery of [[Peking Man]], presented a teleological view of planetary and cosmic evolution, according to which the formation of atoms, molecules and inanimate matter is followed by the development of the [[biosphere]] and organic evolution, then the appearance of man and the [[noosphere]] as the total envelope of human thought. According to Teilhard evolution does not cease here but continues on to its culmination and unification in the Omega Point, which he identifies with [[Christ]].