Dvaita Vedanta
How does Dvaita Vedanta view the concept of liberation or moksha?
According to Dvaita Vedanta, liberation or moksha is the ultimate goal of human life. It is the state of complete freedom from the cycle of birth and death, and the attainment of eternal bliss and oneness with God. However, unlike other schools of Vedanta which view liberation as the merging of the individual soul with the universal soul, Dvaita Vedanta holds a unique perspective on this concept.
In Dvaita Vedanta, the individual soul or Atman is considered to be distinct from the supreme soul or Brahman. This means that even after attaining moksha, the individual soul retains its separate identity and does not merge with Brahman. This is based on the belief that the individual soul is eternally different from Brahman, and this difference cannot be dissolved even in the state of liberation.
According to Dvaita Vedanta, the individual soul is bound by the cycle of birth and death due to its ignorance of its true nature as a part of Brahman. This ignorance is known as avidya and is the root cause of all suffering. Liberation, therefore, is seen as the removal of this ignorance and the realization of one's true nature as a distinct entity from Brahman.
The path to liberation in Dvaita Vedanta involves devotion and surrender to God. It is believed that through devotion and surrender, the individual soul can attain the grace of God and be freed from the cycle of birth and death. This is known as bhakti yoga and is considered the most effective means of attaining moksha in Dvaita Vedanta.
Furthermore, Dvaita Vedanta also emphasizes the importance of performing one's duties and responsibilities in the world. It is believed that one's actions should be performed with the understanding that they are offerings to God, and not for personal gain. This helps in purifying the mind and preparing it for the ultimate goal of liberation.
In conclusion, Dvaita Vedanta views liberation as the state of eternal bliss and oneness with God, but with the understanding that the individual soul retains its distinct identity even in this state. It emphasizes the importance of devotion, surrender, and performing one's duties in the world as the means to attain moksha. This unique perspective on liberation sets Dvaita Vedanta apart from other schools of Vedanta and offers a different approach to achieving the ultimate goal of human life.