Karma and the Panoptic Gaze: A Dhārmika Perspective on Moral Surveillance and Self Governance
Dathatreya B
Abstract
This article explores the intriguing parallels and key divergences between Michel Foucault’s concept of Panopticism and the karmic self-surveillance doctrine of Sanātana Dharma. Drawing on primary Dhārmika sources – including Vedic scriptures and classical commentaries by Śaṅkara, Rāmānuja, Madhva, Vyāsa, and Medhātithi – we examine how the notion of an “all-seeing” moral order compares to the Panopticon’s internalised gaze. Both frameworks posit an ever-watchful presence that governs behaviour: Foucault’s Panopticon induces self-discipline through the perception of constant surveillance, whereas Sanātana Dharma describes an intrinsic cosmic witness (ātman/Paramātman) and the law of karma as enforcing self-regulation. Through Sanskrit verses (with transliteration and translation) and analysis of traditional commentaries, we delve into how the Dhārmika idea of an inner moral governor and the Western idea of disciplinary surveillance each foster self-governance. While sharing structural similarities in shaping conduct, they diverge sharply in ethos and ultimate purpose: the former rooted in spiritual liberation and dharmic order, the latter in social control and power dynamics. By rooting our comparative study in authentic Sanātana Dharma philosophy and engaging with Western critical thought (Foucault, David Lyon, Giorgio Agamben, et al.), this article illuminates how ancient Dhārmika insights remain relevant to contemporary discussions on morality, power, and the governance of the self.
Keywords: Panopticism; Karma; Surveillance; Self-Governance; Moral Discipline
📥 Download PDF