LIBERATION (Moksha)
Moksha (Liberation)a is the summum bonum of life. Moksha is the fulfilment of life's purpose. Life ends on this earth plane when you attain Moksha or liberation from birth and death. The realisation of your real object in life is freedom or Moksha. Moksha bestows on you eternal life of undecaying bliss and perennial joy. Moksha is not annihilation. Moksha is the annihilation of this little self-arrogating ego only. Moksha is realisation of the identity of the individual soul with the Supreme Soul. By annihilating this little self you possess the whole of true universality, you attain an eternal life.
Mukti is obtained through the knowledge of the Self. To attain Jnana,
you must have one-pointedness of mind (Ekagrata). Ekagrata comes through Upasana (intense systematic meditation). Upasana comes through purity of heart (Chitta Suddhi). Chitta Suddhi
comes through Nishkamya Karma Yoga. To do Nishkamya Karma, you must have
controlled the senses (Indriyas). The Indriyas can be controlled through discerment (Viveka) and dispassion (Vairagya).
Moksha is not to be regarded as a becoming into something which
previously had no existence. Moksha is not something to be achieved. It is
already achieved. Everything is one with Absolute or Para Brahman. What is to
be achieved is annihilation of the sense of separateness. Moksha is the direct
perception of that which has existed from eternity, but has hitherto been
concealed from us on account of the veil of ignorance. Moksha is attainment of
the Supreme Bliss or Immortality and removal of all kinds of pain. Moksha is
freedom from birth and death.
Freedom or Mukti is your only real nature. You will have to know this
truth only through direct intuitive experience. You will have to cut asunder
the veil of ignorance by meditation on the Self. Then you will shine in your
original pristine purity and divine glory.
Brahman, Self, Purusha, Chaitanya, Consciousness, God, Atman,
Immortality, Freedom, Perfection, Bliss, Bhuma or the unconditioned are
synonymous terms. If you attain Self-realisation alone, will you be freed from
the round of births and deaths and its concomitant evils. The goal of life is
the attainment of the final beatitude or Moksha. Moksha can be attained by
constant meditation with a heart that is rendered pure and steady by selfless
service and Japa.
Moksha is the highest benefit, is the attainment of the Supreme Bliss and the removal of all kinds of pain. Jnana is only the means to
attain the highest bliss.
The Jiva (individual being) falsely superimposes the body and others
which are not Self upon himself and identifies himself with them.
This identification constitutes bondage. The freedom from this identification
is Moksha. That which causes this identification is Avidya or nescience. That
which removes the identification is knowledge (Vidya). Attainment of knowledge of the Self
eradicates this Avidya and its effects. The nature ( Svaroopa) of Moksha is the
attainment of Supreme Bliss and removal of all kinds of sufferings.
The right knowledge of Brahman
consists in knowing that He is one with one's own self. The difference between the Jiva and the Brahman lies only in the limiting adjunct (Upadhi). The Jiva, though he is Brahman in reality or essence is
subject to the miseries of worldly existence as caused by his connection with
the Upadhi of Antahkarana or the fourfold mind (the inner instrument, viz. Buddhi, Manas, Chitta, Ego). As there
is no real distinction between them, it should be known that Brahman is
identical with the Self (Atman) Hence it is said that those who know the real truth
understand Brahman to be identical with the Self (Atman) as declared in the great
sentences of the Upanishads or Mahavakyas: "I am Brahman"-"This
Self is Brahman." They even teach the same thing to their disciple in the
words: "Tat Tvam Asi -Thou art That." Therefore it should be known
that Brahman is identical with Atman (Self).
The knower of Brahman becomes Brahman itself. Having become Brahman
while yet alive, he is freed from the round of birth and death. Knowledge of
Brahman alone is the means of emancipation or Moksha.