Namaste,
It is my understanding that Shaiva and Advaita Hinduism are very much based in self-realization of the soul as either part of the Supreme Being or one and the same with it, and a large part of Shaiva teaching and practice is focused on this. As far as I understand it, Vaishnava Hinduism does not focus on this much, if at all, and the focus is more on God as outside oneself rather than God within (if there is such a teaching in Vaishnavism).
What is the reason for this? Many of the Upanishads and Vedic literature focus on the relationship between the soul and God and realisation of this relationship (whatever that might be), and even if this is acknowledged in Vaishnavism the focus seems to be on god as a Personality rather than the divine within. I am pretty sure, though not completely, that vaishnava does teach that there is a part of God within, I think it is what Prabhupada called the "supersoul". But the focus seems to be on Bhakti rather than realization of this "supersoul" as part of Vishnu/Krishna/Narayana. I could be wrong - does vaishnavism teach realization of the soul?
I want to stress that my understanding of vaishnavism is extremely limited, and even then it is based on ISKCON and Gaudiya Vaishnava, and Srila Prabhupadas commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. Any misunderstandings are my fault, and this post is not meant to criticise or demean Vaishnavas in any way.
Wilfred.
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