The Basics of The Three Philosophies-6

[Guest guest]

Dear Members,

 

Contd….. Vishishtadvaita

 

EXPLANATION OF THE TERM VISHISHTADVAITA

 

In the vedic texts like “tatvamasi” the jivatma is

interpreted to be the Brahman itself. The following

explanation is given: - ‘tat’ means the Brahman,

‘tvam’ means the jivatma, and ‘asi’ means ‘you are’.

As a whole it means ‘you, the jivatma are verily the

brahman’.

 

But this explanation does not corraborate with other

Upanishad texts.

 

‘ yah pruthivyaam thishtan pruthivyaa antaro yam

pruthivi na veda yasya pruthvi sariram yah pruthivim

antaro yamayati, esha ta aatma antaryamya bhhoothah’ {

bru: 5-7-3}.

 

‘ ya aatmani thishtan aatmano antaro yamaatma na veda

yasyaatma sariram ya aatmaanamantaro yamayathi sa ta

aatma antaryaamya bhoothah’ { Madhyantina bruh:

5-7-22}.

 

Through such texts it is known that Brahman is the

Atma of all. All the sentient and insentient objects

form his body. Hence, the text ‘tatvamasi’ is to be

interpreted as follows. ‘tat’ refers to the Brahman

which is the cause for the entire world and is full of

all auspicious qualities. Though the term ‘tvam’

refers to the jivatman, it refers only to the Brahman

as it is the Brahman that resides having the jiva as

its body. By such an interpretation, the above

mentioned vedic texts are also resolved. Otherwise it

would lead to imposing demerits on Brahman. In a

similar manner, it is wrong to say that this world

which is reffered to as maya is false. Going by the

aforesaid vedic verses and verses such as “ ajaamekaam

lohithasuklakrishnaam” taken from the Swetaswatara

Upanishad, it is clear that the Prakruthi too is

eternal. In fact the true import of the statement – ‘

The Brahman alone truly exists. Nothing else exists’

is that –“ The Brahman alone is the Aatman. The ‘chit’

( the sentient jivas) and ‘achit’ ( the insentient

world) are its ‘visheshanas’( Those that qualify it).

 

Hence the Upanishads in fact speak only this

‘VISHISHTA-ADVAITA’ and not ‘KEVALA-ADVAITA’. The

reason for terming it as ‘VISHISHTAADVAITA’ being – It

is ADVAITA because it says that Brahman is one, and it

is VISHISHTA because it says that the ‘chit’ and the

‘achit’ form its body.

 

Next we finally deal with Samsara and Moksha, that is

transmigration and liberation:- The jivatmas who are

basically knowledge-personified are shrouded in

ignorance and have their knowledge shrunken according

to the karmas accumulated in previous births. Hence

they assume various bodies of various tendencies. They

imagine themselves to be the body and because of that

they experience joy and sorrow. To get snapped from

this bondage and to reach Vaikunta, where Sriman

Narayana dwells along with Lakshmi is called Moksha or

Liberation.

 

As per the vedic text- “Asyeshaanaa jagatho

vishnupatni, hrishcha te lakshmishcha patnyau”, Sri

Mahalakshmi is the consort of Sriman Narayana. She is

the queen of the entire world. She is concerned about

the welfare of the jivas and secures liberation for

them by pleading Sri Narayana for their cause. The

paths of Karma, Gnana, Bhakthi and prapatti are the

means to attain that.

 

Prapatti is to surrender to the Lord. It is a simple

path that can be easily followed by all. A jiva who

has attained Vaikunta, that is Moksha, does not get

caught in samsara again. Even at the time of deluge,

that jiva always experiences eternal bliss in the

Paramapada ( the highest abode of the Lord) that has

no destruction.

 

The Vedas declare “ na sa punaraavartate na sa

punaraavartate” which means “ He does not return, He

does not return”. That jiva does not return to this

samsara.

 

Regards

 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

---------------------

If you have any questions or doubts concerning

Spirituality, Mental peace or problems in life or

about dharma, please write to us by clicking here:

http://www.namadwaar.org/answers/askquestion.php

 

His Holiness Sri Sri Swamiji personally answers these

questions for you and suggests prayers.

---------------------