Introduction from Rajiv Madabhushi

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

 

I just joined this mailing list. My name is Rajiv Madabhushi.

I am studying for a PhD in EE here at the University of Maryland. I

am very much interested in learning about Visishtadvaita and its

explanation of the relationship between the jiva and Paramatma. I

have had some exposure to the Advaita version of this relationship

(hearing tapes on Sankaracarya's Tattva Bodha, joining a Bhagavad Gita

discussion group run by a local Chinmayananda mission). However,

since I feel there are some drawbacks with their explanation (for

example, the explanation of the ultimate oneness of everything in the

universe contradicts a subsequent explanation of the distinction

between the Isvara and Maya - e.g., Vishnu and Lakshmi), I am

interested in the explanation of this relationship by Ramanujacarya

and Vedanta Desikar. Furthermore, my family have been ardent

Visishtadvaitins (at least my grandfathers' generation and before),

and thus I feel I should at least learn about this philosophy.

 

I have relatives who have explained some of the basics of the

philosophy, but there are more aspects I would like to learn.

 

Thanks, and hope to be making some good friends on this list,

 

-Rajiv