Moksha Salvation in Hinduism... highlights concept and the path
Is it not true that only after gaining Enlightenment
(Self-Realization) that one can reach the stage of Moksha
(Salvation).
Moksha is that ephemeral truth of life without which human
beings cannot sustain themselves. The cause of the human body...
the process of evolution... all leads to our Soul (Atman)
gaining liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Moksha)
forever.
Moksha being the ultimate truth of life... none can just do
without! In the present life we may or may not pursue Moksha as
the ultimate goal of all life... inherently and spiritually our
Soul (Atman) is bound to pursue this one and only goal in the
life of every Soul (Atman) in the Cosmos.
If gaining liberation from the cycle of birth and death (i.e.
achieving the stage of Moksha) is the only goal of every Soul
(our Atman within)... and knowing the fact that our body is but
clothing for our Soul (Atman)... our Soul (Atman)... plays the
governing role! Whatever be our present goal in life... the
ultimate goal of our cosmic life remains the same, gaining
Moksha! (Salvation).
Attaining the state of Moksha (Salvation) is reaching the Mount
Everest of physical manifested life. There is nothing beyond
Moksha that is required to be achieved in this life. Moksha is
that stage in the life of a human being when one cuts across all
the shackles of the senses and the mind. Unless we gain absolute
control over the five senses and the mind... we cannot achieve
Moksha in this life.
Gaining absolute control over the senses and the mind is a
complex process. One has to diligently take control of all the
senses one by one and the moment we are able to establish
absolute control over all the five senses... controlling mind is
easy to achieve! Our five senses help us live the physical
manifested form of us. They have got nothing to do with our true
inner self... our Soul (atman within us)
What is the correct process that we can gain absolute control
over the five senses and ultimately the mind for us to achieve
the stage of Moksha? For cutting across the various barriers of
senses... we need to maintain more and more purity in our
day-to-day dealings. The more pure our thought process... the
sooner shall we be able to gain control over the senses.
As practiced in Jainism... it is the concept of Bhava Karma
which plays the governing role. Before committing any physical
action... we must have thought over it. If we are awarded -10
points for committing a grave sin like murder then we also get
negative marking for negative thoughts incurred by us before
committing the murder. Does this mean that committing a sin only
in thoughts attracts negative marking... yes! Even by thinking
wrong of others... we are incurring a sin and this result in our
getting established on a lower pedestal on the spiritual plane.
For attaining Moksha... if we need to establish control over the
five senses then it becomes mandatory for us to follow the
concept of Bhava Karma and desist from even thinking wrong of
others. This is the only process for maintaining absolute purity
of thought. The concept of Bhava Karma in Jainism has no
parallel in the History of Mankind. It is only traveling on the
path of Bhava Karma that Saints and Sages were able to control
anger and purify their thinking patterns.
As we gain more and more purity of thoughts on the path of
attaining the stage of Moksha... we shall find that gaining
absolute control over mind is within our reach. Gaining control
over the five senses is the most difficult part in the life of a
human being on the path to attaining Moksha. But it is a goal
not unachievable! Patience and persistence both play a vital
role in establishing firm control over the five senses. We have
to practice Patience and Persistence at each and every stage
lest we may not be able to gain Moksha in this life.
Establishing control over anger is only possible after we have
developed a habit of forgiving one and all... whatever be the
cause or the reasoning! Forgiving one is a one-sided affair.
Compassion is required to be practiced at every stage of the
physical manifested life. Without Compassion and the Power of
Forgiveness... none can reach any worthwhile stage on the path
of Spirituality. Every true Saint or a Sage has developed the
power of Forgiveness to its extreme for it is only after
controlling anger that one can reach the stage of Moksha in this
life.
Broadly speaking... to attain the stage of Moksha... we need to
gain Kaivalya Jnana (Omniscience) and this is possible only
after establishing absolute control over the Senses and the
Mind. The moment one gains control over the Senses and the
Mind... one reaches the stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi... the stage
when one can indulge in one-to-one dialogue with God the
Almighty.
Maintaining absolute purity of thought by practicing the path of
Bhava Karma... practicing Compassion (by which one develops
control over anger) Patience and Persistence ... we are able to
reach nearer our cosmic goal of life... attaining Moksha! There
is nothing nobler in life than reaching the stage of Moksha in
the present life.