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What is the main belief of Vishishtadvaita?

Vishishtadvaita, also known as qualified non-dualism, is a philosophical school of thought that is based on the teachings of the Hindu philosopher Ramanuja. It is one of the three major schools of Vedanta, along with Advaita and Dvaita.

The main belief of Vishishtadvaita is that there is only one ultimate reality, Brahman, but it is qualified by distinctions and attributes. This means that while Brahman is the ultimate reality, it is not a formless and featureless entity, but rather it has qualities and attributes that make it unique.

According to Vishishtadvaita, the individual soul (jivatma) and the world (jagat) are not separate from Brahman, but are rather a part of it. This is in contrast to the belief of Advaita, which states that the individual soul and the world are merely an illusion and do not truly exist.

One of the key principles of Vishishtadvaita is that the individual soul has a relationship with Brahman, known as the soul's essential nature (svarupa). This relationship is described as being similar to that of a ray of light and the sun. Just as a ray of light is dependent on the sun for its existence, the individual soul is dependent on Brahman for its existence.

In Vishishtadvaita, the relationship between the individual soul and Brahman is seen as one of devotion and surrender. The ultimate goal of the individual soul is to attain moksha, or liberation, by realizing its essential nature and becoming one with Brahman.

Another important belief of Vishishtadvaita is the concept of karma. It is believed that every action, thought, and intention of an individual has a consequence, which can either lead to positive or negative outcomes in this life or the next. This is why it is important for individuals to live a virtuous life and perform their duties without attachment to the results.

In summary, the main belief of Vishishtadvaita is that there is only one ultimate reality, Brahman, which is qualified by distinctions and attributes. The individual soul and the world are not separate from Brahman, but rather a part of it, and the ultimate goal is to attain liberation through devotion and surrender to Brahman.