Ramanuja and Madhva

Monotheism Teaching Argument Monism is self-contradictory or at least unteachable (Argument against Shankra)

How could one talk about this supposedly ineffable ultimate reality beyond distinctions? How could one teach it? Is this teaching itself not self-undermining? If the tool (language) is not real, how can you use it to teach?

Shankara cannot account for the origin of ignorance and suffering. (Argument against Shankra)

If the self is identical with Brahman, where would ignorance and suffering come from?

Dualism

Madhva -Dualistic or transcendent theism -according to which Atman and Brahman are distinct substances; his thought entails a metaphysical pluralism, according to which Brahman (God), Atmans (selves), and things are each eternally separate substances

Shankara claims that, in the knowledge (jnana) through which one attains liberation (moksha), there is no duality of subject and object, and that Atman=Brahman is a pure nondual consciousness There cannot be a nondualistic knowledge, because knowledge as such implies differences (Madvas argument against Shankra)

Madva says that perception is the basis of all knowledge, and perception relies on differences, because all knowledge needs a knower and a thing to know

Shankra's reply to nondualistic knowledge argument

He does not dismiss Madvas argument on his own level of reality (Maya), for he (Shankra) is talking about a different type of Knowledge (Jnana)

Shankra dismisses hindu devotionalism

Hindu devotionalism will not help one reach Moksha and is therefore unnecessary Janna is what will get one to Moksha Janna -->Moksha Self=God

Shankras reply to Monotheism teaching argument

Using things in Maya, to try to wake us up from Maya, to reach Turyia, where words are not needed -argumentation: analogy, via negativa, and deconstructive reasoning.

Shankras responce for his inability to account for the origin of ignorance and suffering

? possibly pain and suffering is not realigned ignorance is inevitable until one reaches Brahman and overcomes Maya

Ramanuja and Madva defend Hindu devotionalism (argument against Shankra)

Bhakti Yoga will help one reach Moksha Self does not lead to Moksha as Shankra presented, for God is greater than the self. We must rely on a higher power Bhakti-->Moksha God>Self

Madhva's school of Philosophy

Dualism

Qualified non-dualism

Ramanuja Panentheism -All is in God; God or Brahman is a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts -Brahman is the ultimate substance of reality, whereas the plurality of Atmans and things are real qualities of this substance -Diffrence and Unity are correlative terms (you can't have one without the other) -Qualities and there underlying substance Quality/Substance

Who argues against two as a team?

Ramanuja and Madhva against Shankra

Ramanuja's school of Philosophy

Vishistadvaita