Dvaita Vedanta treats rival traditions as glimpses of a larger truth, yet insists its own vision offers the complete picture. Madhvacharya famously compared other philosophies to puzzle pieces: each shows a shape or color of reality, but only the dualist framework locks them all into place without distorting their edges. Schools like Advaita or Vishishtadvaita get credit for highlighting certain divine attributes, but from a Dvaita standpoint they end up blurring the sharp distinction between the eternal Supreme (Vishnu) and individual souls.

When it comes to non-Vedic systems—Buddhism, Jainism or Cārvāka—Dvaita Vedantins are equally frank. Buddhist “no-self” views and Jain claims of multiple independent souls fall short of the Vedic testimony that upholds a single supreme Lord governing the cosmos. Cārvāka materialism, which dismisses scripture outright, simply “doesn’t hold water” in this scheme. Rather than sneer at these paths, though, the dualist school classifies them under its “five-fold classification of false views,” pointing out where each errs while acknowledging that sincere seekers there may still cultivate virtues like compassion or discipline.

Even contemporary faiths get drawn into this filter. Islam, Christianity or Sikhism, admired for their moral teachings and community spirit—especially during interfaith events like this year’s G20 Spiritual Heritage gathering in India—are seen as springboards toward higher realization. Devotional fervor and ethical conduct are applauded, but without direct grounding in the Vedas they’re considered preparatory steps, akin to half a loaf of bread: nourishing, yet incomplete for the journey to moksha.

This attitude doesn’t translate into intolerance. Modern Dvaita thinkers often stress “respectful engagement,” joining dialogues at places like the Indian Council of Philosophical Research or online symposia on religious pluralism. The emphasis is on testing ideas against Vedic standards, not merely declaring others “wrong.” That said, Dvaita Vedanta remains unapologetically confident that the soul’s eternal difference from God and complete dependence on divine grace are non-negotiable truths—found in no other system with the same razor-sharp clarity.