Moksha / Liberation: What Is It?

By Stephen Knapp

Moksha is also called mukti, which essentially means to attain freedom from
any further forms of differentiated, temporal, and ordinary material existence
in the mortal world. It also means, quite simply, becoming free from samsara,
or the continued rounds of birth and death in the material realm, which is
caused by the accumulation and continuation of karma. So it also means
becoming free from karma. It is karma, no matter whether it is good or bad,
which keeps us bound to material existence. So one of the main goals of
human life is to attain freedom from this material existence, and enter the
spiritual realm. That is moksha, liberation.

However, there are also different levels of moksha, which is also described as
becoming free from the false identification of the body, or koshas, and
freedom from maya, the illusory energy. This means that a person can attain
one level of liberation simply by becoming free from the material conception of
life, such as thinking you are the material body. This is one of the preliminary
qualifications for entering the spiritual domain, which is considered by many to
be the Brahman, the eternal, unlimited brahmajyoti, or great white light.
However, there is more to it than this.

If a person can rise enough from the material conception of life and realize
and experience their spiritual identity, and then act on the spiritual platform,
one can be called a jivanmukta, or liberated soul. This is no easy position to
reach, nor can many people be expected to attain it, at least in one lifetime.
But it is not only possible, but it is expected and is called the perfection of
human existence. Out of all that we may be able to accomplish in this life, the
main thing is to become liberated and free from any further rounds of material
existence. That is real freedom.

However, there are different kinds of liberation, which we will explain herein.

MOKSHA INTO THE NONDUAL BRAHMAN

First of all, one of the main premises of moksha, or liberation from material
existence, is that after death a person who is eligible for liberation enters the
spiritual world. The view of the spiritual world depends on the school of
philosophical understanding. There are two main schools of thought
consisting of the non-dual or advaita philosophical outlook, and then
the dvaita or dualistic school.

In the advaita tradition, emphasis for liberation is especially put on the soul’s
release from ignorance. This kind of ignorance is the misidentification of the
living being as the impermanent material body, and to consider that this world
is real, when actually it is temporary, like a dream. Rising above such
ignorance with the means of spiritual knowledge and realization, the living
entity can attain the perception of one’s real identity as the spirit soul
or atman which is within but also beyond the material body. This is the
ultimate reality, aham brahmasmi, or I am a spiritual being, which should be
understood and realized. So, moksha is also the release from this ignorance
and the realization of one’s true identity.

The advaita school accepts that the atman or soul, the Paramatma or
Supersoul within, and the Brahman, or formless, all-pervasive spiritual force,
are all one. So, this understanding of liberation means to merge into the
eternal, impersonal Brahman. In the advaita tradition, one of the means to
attain this is through Jnana Yoga. However, it is said that to attain this kind of
liberation is not easy, even after years or even lifetimes of practice.

In this kind of liberation, having merged into the unlimited Brahman, one floats
in the eternal impersonal Brahman or spiritual sky in what could be called a
state of spiritual unconsciousness. It is ecstatic because there are no material
pains or pleasures that are caused due to material contact through a physical
body, nor is there any ignorance due to falsely identifying with the illusion. It is
a constant and never-ending state of spiritual bliss, but without any activities
or individual identity. It is something like being a spiritual drop in a spiritual
ocean.

MOKSHA INTO VAIKUNTHA, THE SPIRITUAL PLANETS

In the dvaita or dualistic school of thought, there is a difference between the

soul (jiva or atman), the Supersoul (Paramatma), and the Supreme Being
(Bhagavan). They are not all one. They are considered the same in spiritual
quality, but different in quantity or potency. God is omnipotent and infinite
while the innumerable individual souls or atmans are infinitesimal and limited.
Thus, they also keep their individuality. Because of these differences, each
individual soul can also reach a different state of liberation, which we will
discuss shortly.

Unity between the souls and the Supreme Being is not by merging one into
the other, but is attained through devotional love, bhakti-yoga. Through bhakti-
yoga, diving deep into love of God, one frees him or herself of all of one’s
good and bad karma, spiritualizes one’s consciousness and becomes free
from all illusion, and becomes united with God. In this way, the bhakta
(devotee) can attain the abode of the Supreme Lord in a perfected state, but
maintains his or her individual identity, with a spiritual form, personality,
tastes, pastimes, and so on. Then they remain individuals but are one in
quality and interest, which is to engage in spiritual loving pastimes with each
other, centered around pleasing the Supreme Lord. This form of expression is
the natural and constitutional position of the individual soul, and is the nectar
for which they are always seeking. This is also reflected in the material worlds,
where the individual living entities are always seeking or talking about loving
exchanges. The difference is that in the material world they are seeking their
own lusty pleasure, while in the spiritual world they are simply seeking how to
give pleasure to God. But this pleasure given to God is reflected back to each
individual soul from God and is felt as divine nectar, which supercedes many
times over any such happiness found in the material world or connected with
the material body.

Also in Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita philosophy, the goal of liberation as an

eternal union with God can be reached by developing loving surrender to God,
(Vishnu). This is especially attained through bhakti, loving surrender to the
Divine.

Furthermore, in the dvaita view, the Brahman is considered the eternal, all-
pervasive energy of God, or the infinite brahmajyoti or great white light, which
is but the bodily rays or effulgence that expands from the Supreme Being. It is
within this brahmajyoti or spiritual sky in which float the spiritual planets, called
Vaikuntha planets, as well as the innumerable living souls that merge into and
then float like spiritual atoms in the brahmajyoti or great Brahman. If they do
not know of the spiritual planets within the Brahman, then they think that the
Brahman, in and of itself, is the highest reality and all that is.

In this way, the spiritual world has a place for everyone, such as the Brahman
into which merge those who view the ultimate reality or God with no form.
Then deeper in the spiritual sky are the innumerable Vaikuntha planets which
are inhabited by the different forms of Vishnu, who is worshiped by His
devotees in a mood of awe and veneration. Then there is the central planet of
Krishnaloka or Goloka Vrindavana. This is the topmost dwelling of Lord
Krishna, shaped like a lotus flower, where upon each petal He exhibits
different pastimes with those many devotees who are simply absorbed in
spontaneous loving exchanges and activities.

Amongst this unlimited spiritual sky and all of these spiritual planets are the
destinations of those devotees who become liberated. The impersonalists
or advaitas merge into the Brahman, while the personalists or dvaitas enter
into one of the spiritual planets to engage in spiritually devotional activities.
The various destinations on these spiritual planets are described in this way:

It is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (9.4.67), by Lord Vishnu to Durvasa

Muni, "My pure devotees are always satisfied being engaged in devotional
service, and therefore they do not aspire even after the five liberated stages,
which are (1) to be one with Me [by merging with God or the Brahman], (2) to
achieve residence on My planet, (3) to have My opulences, (4) to possess
bodily features similar to Mine, and (5) to gain personal association with Me.
So when they are not interested even in these liberated positions, you can
know how little they care for material opulences or material liberation."

As explained further by Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, "From the above

verse, there are five stages of liberation, which are (1) to become one with
God [as in the advaita school], (2) to live on the same spiritual planet as the
Lord, (3) to obtain the same bodily features as the Lord, (4) to have the same
opulences as the Lord, and (5) to have constant association with the Lord. Out
of these five liberated stages, the one which is known as sayujya, or to merge
into the existence of the Lord, is the last to be accepted by a devotee. The
other four liberations, although not desired by [advanced] devotees, still are
not against the devotional ideals. Some of the liberated persons who have
achieved these four stages of liberation may also develop affection for Krishna
and be promoted to the Goloka Vrindavana planet in the spiritual sky. In other
words, those who are already promoted to the Vaikuntha planets, and who
possess the four kinds of liberation, may also sometimes develop affection for
Krishna and become promoted to Krishnaloka [the highest of spiritual planets].

"So those who are in the four liberated stages may still be going through
different stages of existence. In the beginning they may want the opulences of
Krishna, but at the mature stage the dormant love for Krishna exhibited in
Vrindavana become prominent in their hearts. As such, the pure devotees
never accept the liberation of sayujya, to become one with the Supreme,
though sometimes they may accept as favorable the other four liberated
states." (Nectar Of Devotion, p.45)
So herein we find the different types of liberation available to those who
become aware of the spiritual planets, which float in the spiritual Brahman or
brahmajyoti. You may be able to attain the same spiritual planet of the Lord,
or live in similar opulences with a similar form, or even have constant
association with Krishna or one of His expansions that exist on each of the
Vaikuntha planets. The Vaikuntha planets hold an atmosphere of awe and
veneration toward God, while in Krishnaloka, the residents have a
spontaneous and natural love for God, which dominates all the pastimes
there. So even those living on the Vaikuntha planets may also develop a
natural, spontaneous love for God and then shift themselves from the
Vaikuntha planets to Krishnaloka.

So how do we attain this kind of liberation? It is said that bhakti-yoga, the

yoga of love and devotion, is the easiest and quickest way to attain such
liberation because the end justifies the means, or the practice brings one to
the same mood as you find in the spiritual planets.

The Padma Purana also states: "For any person who is chanting the holy
name [of Krishna] either softly or loudly, the paths to liberation and even
heavenly happiness are at once open." (Nectar Of Devotion, p. 80)

However, entering deeply into the nectar of this mood of devotion for the Lord
surpasses even the desire to attain liberation from material existence. It is not
that we should give up the will to become free from material existence, but
entering into this devotion is like attaining material liberation even in this very
lifetime, no matter where we are. It is all a matter of consciousness.

This is explained further in the prayers by the wives of Kaliya in the Srimad-
Bhagavatam (10.16.37): "Dear Lord, the dust of Your lotus feet is very
wonderful. Any person who is fortunate enough to achieve this dust does not
care for [residence on] heavenly planets, lordship over all the planetary
systems, the mystic perfections of yoga, or even liberation from material
existence. In other words, anyone who adores the dust of Your lotus feet does
not care a fig for all other perfectional stages."

Lord Krishna Himself provides further insight in this matter to Uddhava in

the Srimad-Bhavatam (11.20.34): "My dear Uddhava, the devotees who have
completely taken shelter of My service are so steadfast in devotional service
that they have no other desire. Even if they are offered the four kinds of
spiritual opulences [(1) to achieve residence on My planet, (2) to have My
opulences, (3) to possess bodily features similar to Mine, and (4) to gain
personal association with Me], they will refuse to accept them. So what to
speak of their desiring anything within the material world."

In a similar line of thinking, Lord Krishna also says in the Srimad-

Bhagavatam (11.14.14): "My dear Uddhava, a person whose consciousness
is completely absorbed in My thought and activities, does not aspire even to
occupy the post of Lord Brahma, or the post of Indra, or the post of lordship
over the planets, or the eight kinds of mystic perfections, or even liberation
itself."

So herein we see that liberation is practically automatic for a sincere devotee

of the Lord, but the devotional consciousness supercedes the desire for
liberation itself. In this way, such a devotee is already liberated though still
living in this material world.

Lord Shiva also says something similar to Devi in the Srimad-

Bhagavatam (12.10.6): "My dear Devi, the great brahmana sage Markandeya
has attained unflinching faith and devotion unto the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, and as such, he does not aspire for any benedictions, including
liberation from the material world."

Those who are impersonalists may be satisfied simply with the premise of
becoming liberated from material existence, but without their individuality they
have no chance of engaging in spiritual activities, or entering the
transcendental bliss of hearing and chanting the glories or holy names of the
Supreme Lord. (Nectar of Devotion, p.37) But those who are devotees of the
Lord can automatically give up material life and also enjoy the transcendental
bliss of hearing and chanting the wonderful activities of Lord Krishna. (Nectar
of Devotion, p.41)

This is the difference, that by merging into the Brahman, one gives up their
individuality for spiritual and devotional activities that are connected with God,
Lord Krishna and His expansions, which is the nature of the spiritual planets
within the Brahman. Thus, they do not experience the sweet nectar of such.
Therefore, without the knowledge of such devotion that goes on within the
atmosphere of the Vaikuntha planets and Krishnaloka, if there is a desire for
activities in the souls who are merged into the Brahman, they must return to
the material worlds to start again. Action or the need of expression is natural
for us because it is the inherit nature of the soul itself. Even in the material
world the saying is that "variety is the spice of life." Variety means different
types of activities. That is why everyone tries so hard for different types of
self-expression, whether it be artistic, emotional, intellectual, etc., but love is
the highest type of expression that brings happiness even in this material
atmosphere. But the soul’s need to love and be loved, which is obvious even
in the material worlds, is expressed to its fullest when it revives its connection
with God and reaches the spiritual domain.

This is why devotees have no desire for the liberation of merging into the
Brahman and losing their individuality, if it means that they will be forced to
give up engaging in devotional service to God. As explained in the prayers of
Maharaja Prithu in Srimad-Bhagavatam (4.20.24): "My dear Lord, if after
taking liberation I have no chance of hearing the glories of Your Lordship,
glories chanted by pure devotees from the core of their hearts in praise of
Your lotus feet, and if I have no chance for this honey and transcendental
bliss, then I shall never ask for liberation or this so-called spiritual
emancipation. I shall simply always pray unto Your Lordship that you may give
me millions of tongues and millions of ears, so that I can constantly chant and
hear of Your transcendental glories."

So, in conclusion, this is the devotional and loving nature of the soul, and this
is fully manifested in the spiritual domain of Vaikuntha and Krishnaloka, or
even in the consciousness of the mood of devotion to the Lord right here in
this material world. This is the difference in the various types of moksha or
liberation from material existence, and why devotees only wish for that
liberation wherein they can continue and fully manifest their spiritual loving
activities in connection with God, for this is all that can completely satisfy the
soul.