Liberation and Love-what is the difference?

[Pankaja_Dasa]

 

 

Hare Krishna,

 

Does anybody know what the difference between a person who desires liberation is, and a person who wants to love God?

 

For example a person who attains Vaikunthaloka because he desires liberation, doesn't this person automatically achieve love of Vishnu??

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

Very nice question.

 

The answer is RASA. The relationship with vishnu is that of reverence or awe. So one in such a position though liberated cannot enjoy loving relationships as a friend, parent or lover (sakhyam, vatsalya or madhurya). So a person wanting liberation (and here we are talking of mukti in reverence to vishnu and not the Brhamjyoti mukti) from Vishnu perpetually serves vishnu as a servant. So the love is there but in reverence which is different from the other bhavas. Each rasa has its qualities and the each jiva prefers one over the other depending on its original position. Hope this answers your question.

 

Hare Krishna.

Radhey Radhey

[Pankaja_Dasa]

 

 

Reverenece is also a Rasa. What I am asking is does a person who wants Mukti does he automatically attain stage of Reverence thereof?

[Guest guest]

********Your Question: For example a person who attains Vaikunthaloka because he desires liberation, doesn't this person automatically achieve love of Vishnu??*********

 

The person is automatically liberated because he desires reverence to Vishnu and not the other way round. So the bhakta wants reverence to Vishnu and is not asking for liberation (though liberation is a part of attaining reverence)

 

Firstly, let us understand Mukti. Mukti means going beyond the clutches of material nature (both from its pleasures and pains). Now mukti need not necessarily mean going to a spiritual planet. There are two primary types of mukti;

1) Mukti can be sayujya mukti, meaning liberation from material world and merging into the brahmajyoti. Individual identity remains covered in this realm.

2) Mukti can be of other type (eg. Svarupya, to get the same body as the Lord etc.), where the personal relationship with the Lord is always maintained. Both the bhakta and the Lord as separate individuals.

 

 

********Your Question: What I am asking is does a person who wants Mukti does he automatically attain stage of Reverence thereof?*************

 

Depends what kind of mukti he wants. If he actually wants Vaikuntha, then he is primarily asking for reverence to Vishnu and liberation just comes along with it. Usually, people who just want to give up their material position (impersonalists) merge into the bramajyoti. But a personalist always asks for a particular kind of relationship with God and mukti just follows.

 

So the answer to your query is: when a person asks for mukti then he gets brahmajyoti and will not get vaikuntha because he is not asking for it. If a person is asking for vaikuntha, then he is primarily asking for reverence to Vishnu and mukti just follows. A person who has reached Vaikuntha has never asked for mukti but for bhakti. So your contention that a person might have reached Vaikuntha without reverence is not possible. No one can reach Vaikuntha (or for that matter Goloka) without reverence to Vishnu (or love for Krishna in case of Goloka). So the statement you made is redundant. Mukti follows bhakti and not vice-versa. You are stating that someone could have possibly reached Viakuntha asking for mukti and not bhakti which is not possible. Vaikuntha or Goloka is reached by bhakti and mukti just follows.

 

Hope this explains your question.

 

Hare Krishna.

Radhey Radhey.

 

Abhi

 

[Pankaja_Dasa]

 

Ok I see a little now.

 

Does Reverence not contain love for Krishna?

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna,

 

Reverence absolutely is on the platform of complete love towards Sri Vishnu. But it is in the form of surrender, thats all. Otherwise there is no possibility of reaching Vaikuntha.

 

Hare Krishna.

Radhey Radhey.

 

Abhi