Tripartite classification of jiivas

[Guest guest]

Dear Prabhus,

Dandavats. Jaya Srila Prabhupada.

 

How does Gaudiya Vaishnavism understand Sri Madhvaacaarya's

statements on the tripartite classification of jiivas? Although

there is no such doctrinaire pronouncement in Gaudiya Vedanta, is

there any attempt to explain it in Gaudiya terms?

 

I haven't come across much explanation of this interesting point by

Madhvaacaarya himself, though it has become a dogmatic point for his

successors. Clearly, terms like "eternal damnation" being ascribed

to the "tamo-yogya" jiivas is a result of later theological

influences, using the language of Christian dogma. If Madhvaacaarya

was speaking in terms of *spiritual* guNa-equivalents, I don't see

how words like "eternal *damnation*" have any meaning. From the

looks of it, there seems to be a lot of scope for interpretation.

 

The idea of some *spiritual* equivalent of guNa seems to be

implicitly accepted by Gaudiya siddhanta, which speaks of spiritual

qualities, etc. The idea of different, eternal svarupas of souls is

also part of Gaudiya siddhanta. Thinking along this line, I was

wondering if this supposedly "unique" point of Madhvaacaarya's

doctrine can be accommodated by Gaudiya siddhanta, albeit with a

deeper, more meaningful iterpretation than the current "eternal

damnation" type of understanding.

 

I also found it interesting when I read that Madhvaacaarya said that

doctrines like Mayavada are eternal, i.e., have always existed, and

will always exist.

 

Any thoughts on this point? Is there any relevant literature out

there that I can refer to?

 

Thanks in advance.