Guest guest Posted May 2, 2007 Report Share Posted May 2, 2007 SAI RAM Dear Brothers and Sisters, Moksha or Mukti in Samskrit language refers to liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth and thereby from all the sufferings and limitations of worldly existence. According to Hindu scriptures, liberation occurs when the individual soul (jivatma) recognises its identity with the Substratum, the Source of all phenomenal existence viz. Brahman or Paramatman. Moksha is seen by the Advaitins as a state of perfection and final release from one`s wordly conception of self, the loosening of the shackle of experiential duality and reestablishment in one`s own fundamental nature. The Ultimate Truth according to them is Oneness without form or being, something which is without manifestation. Moksha is union or merger with that Oneness. The concept of Moksha and Buddhist Nirvana or Enlightment are more or less comparable. According to the Dvaitins(Dualists) and Visishtadvaitins(Qualified advaitic schools of the Vaishnava tradition), Moksha is a stage on the path to union or merger with God(Iswara) and is not considered as a state of Perfection. Our Scriptures tell us that Self-Realization (Atma-Siddhi or Atma-Sakshatkar) is true Moksha. The Bagavad Gita decribes four disciplines (Yogas) or paths(margas) for attainment of Moksha. They are the path of selfless work (Karma Yoga), path of Pure Devotion or Love(Bhakti yoga), path of absolute discernment or Knowledge (Gyana Yoga) and the path of 'royal mediataitve immersion' (Dhyana or Raja Yoga). Different schools of philosophy lay emphasis on different paths for attaining Liberation. This humble self,however, is of the view, that a proper synthesis of all the four Yogas is a must for attaining Moksha or Mukti. While the path of selfless work is, no doubt, noble and lofty, it has to combine with it Devotion and Knowledge. Similarly, the path of 'Royal meditation' bereft of Devotion and Knowledge is not perfect and so on. Unless one can practise simultaneously the essence of all the four disciplines, Mukti or Moksha is not guaranteed. (to be continued) With Loving SAI RAMs, G.Balasubramanian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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