About Getting Back Home
Does Vishishtadvaita believe in the concept of karma?
Vishishtadvaita, also known as qualified non-dualism, is a philosophical school within Hinduism that was founded by Ramanuja in the 11th century. It is a form of Vedanta that emphasizes the oneness of all beings with the ultimate reality, Brahman, while also acknowledging the existence of distinctions and individual souls.
In Vishishtadvaita, the concept of karma plays a significant role in understanding the relationship between the individual soul and Brahman. Karma refers to the actions and deeds of an individual that have consequences in this life and the next. It is believed that every action, whether good or bad, will have an effect on one's future experiences.
According to Vishishtadvaita, karma is a result of the individual soul's ignorance of its true nature as a part of Brahman. This ignorance leads to the soul's attachment to worldly desires and actions, which in turn creates karma. The ultimate goal of Vishishtadvaita is to attain moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death, by realizing one's true nature as a part of Brahman.
Vishishtadvaita also believes in the concept of three types of karma - sanchita, prarabdha, and agami. Sanchita karma refers to the accumulated karma from past lives, prarabdha karma refers to the karma that is currently being experienced, and agami karma refers to the karma that is being created in the present and will have consequences in the future. This concept of karma is similar to other schools of Hinduism, such as Advaita and Dvaita.
However, what sets Vishishtadvaita apart is its belief in the grace of God, known as bhakti, as the means to attain moksha. It is believed that through devotion and surrender to God, one can overcome the effects of karma and attain unity with Brahman. Ramanuja emphasized the importance of surrender to God and devotion to Him as the path to liberation.
In conclusion, Vishishtadvaita does believe in the concept of karma, but it is seen as a result of the soul's ignorance and attachment to worldly desires. The ultimate goal of Vishishtadvaita is to attain moksha through the grace of God, which helps in overcoming the effects of karma and realizing the oneness with Brahman.