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ISKCON vs. Visistadvaita: souls bondage issue

From the Bhakti List Archives

Krishna Kalale • October 29, 1999 


Dear friends,

adiyen had some interesting conversations with Swamy Hridayananda Goswami 
of ISKCON movement regarding the "souls bondage issue".  The argument is 
only regarding one point here :

Modern ISKCON view (based on Sri Hridayananda Goswami and Other ISKCON 
swamis' book "Our Original Position") :

>From time immemorial souls were in bondage.  In other words we dont know 
when souls got into bondage.  Since it was such a long time ago, in texts 
the word "anadi" is used.  even though according to dictionaries "anadi" 
means beginningless, it actually means "a very very long time ago".

VIsistadvaita view:

 Anadi actually means beginningless.  ie. no beginning.  Never was a time 
when a soul (non-nitya suri soul)  was not in bondage.  from beginningless 
time till salvation, souls are in bondage.

Adiyen will post a series of discussions on this subject only to give the 
readers some extra points regarding this issue. Many of you already know 
this information.   The influence of ISKCON on Srivaishnavas is significant 
outside India, since ISKCON temples specialize in Krishna worship which is 
dear to srivaishnavas.  In future our next generation should be equipped 
with appropriate information to appreciate our acharyas' views on this 
subject. I thought that it is necessary to do this since that ISKCON 
publication mis represents Sri Ramanuja sampradaya.

adiyen Krishna Kalale