GOSPEL OF RAMAKRISHNA
Sankara.[1] Another point of view is that of Ramanuja, [2] who has put forward the doctrine of qualified non-dualism. Narendra (to the Bhagavan): Sir, may I ask what is meant by Visishtadvaitavada (qualified non-dualism) ? Ramakrishna: There is a doctrine called Visishtadvaitavada, the view of Ramanuja; Qualified non-dualism. that is, the Absolute (Brahman) must not be considered apart from the world and the soul. The three form one: three in one and one in three. Let us take a Bel-fruit. Let the shell, the seeds and the ker- nel be kept separate. Now suppose some one wished to know the weight of the fruit. Surely
- ↑ Sankara, see note p. 279.
- ↑ Ramanuja was the founder of the Visishtadvaita, or Qualified Non-dualistic School of Vedanta. He was born about 1017 A.D. at Sri Parambattur, a town near Madras in Southern India. He is regarded by His followers as the incarnation of Sesha or Ananta. He wrote Sanskrit Com- mentaries on the Upanishads, Vedanta Sutras and the Bhagavat Gita, and preached His doctrines all over India. He is said to have lived for one hundred and twenty years and died in 1137 A.D. His doctrines were distinct from the Absolute Monistic philosophy of Sankaracharya. He has now millions of followers among all classes of Hindus in India.
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