Visistadvaita
Visistadvaita is a school of Indian philosophy founded by the Indian sage and philosopher Ramanuja (1017-1137 CE).
Ramanuja challenged Sankara’s claim that only the Brahman is real and individuality is illusory (maya).
For Ramanuja the Brahman is real and beyond pain and suffering but individual souls (jivas) emerging from and ultimately resting within the Brahman are also real.
While the Brahman is beyond the law of karma, the individual soul (jiva) is not.
As a result, the jiva experiences the pleasure and pain of earthly life.
Liberation from samsara, the round of rebirth due to karma, is gained through individual effort as well as the grace of God (Vishnu).
» Self, Suffering
Further reading:
- P. D. Devanandan, The Concept of Maya, London: Lutterworth Press, 1950.
On the World Wide Web:
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