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Moksha: Liberation/Salvation
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Most Hindu traditions consider moksha the ultimate

Concepts

goal of life.The other three goals (see Scripture and

Key Concepts
Introduction
Atman: The Self
Reincarnation and Samsara
Karma
Prakriti: Matter
Maya: Illusion
Moksha: Liberation
God: Perceived in Three
Ways
God: Two Main
Understandings
Sanatana Dharma
Varnashrama Dharma
One Goal, Different Paths

Key Points

Guru) are considered temporary but necessary

For most Hindus, moksha is the

stepping-stones towards eternal liberation.

highest goal.

The main differences of opinion centre on the precise

nature of moksha. Although practically all schools
consider it a state of unity with God, the nature of such
unity is contested. The advaita traditions say that
moksha entails annihilation of the soul's false sense of
individuality and realisation of its complete nondifference from God. The dualistic traditions claim that
God remains ever distinct from the individual soul.
Union in this case refers to a commonality of purpose

Moksha means release from

samsara.
Moksha is achieved through union
with God.
Such union is understood in
different ways, primarily two:
complete union of
identity
unity of purpose

and realisation of one's spiritual nature (brahman) through surrender and service to the
Supreme Brahman (God).

Scriptural Passages

Scripture and Guru

Kala: Time

"0 best amongst men (Arjuna), the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress, and

Creation

is steady in both, is certainly eligible for liberation."

Core Values

Practice
Lifestyle
Tradition

Bhagavad Gita 2.15

Useful Analogy 1
The drop of water in the ocean

Extras

The soul is compared to a drop of water and

liberation to its merging into the vast ocean which
represents the Supreme Soul (God).
According to the advaita schools, the soul and God
are equal in every respect, and liberation entails
realisation of one's Godhood. Thus, one's mistaken
sense of individuality is dissolved, and one merges
into the all-pervading Supreme.

Useful Analogy 2
The green parrot in the green tree
The individual soul is compared to a green bird that enters a green tree (God). It appears to
have "merged", but retains its separate identity.
The personalistic schools of thought maintain that the soul and God are eternally distinct
and that any "merging" is only apparent. "Oneness" in this case refers to:
unity of purpose through loving service
realisation of one's nature as brahman (godly) but maintenance of one's spiritual

individuality.
Liberation involves entering God's abode,
though many schools teach that those souls
who have become free from material
contamination are already liberated, even before
leaving the material body

Related Practices
Many religious practices and rites of passage are
aimed at liberation. Particularly relevant are those
designed to remove our attachment to this world
and its transient pleasures. Renunciation,
especially in old age, is an important feature of
Hinduism. Without conquering qualities such as
lust, anger and greed, and without control of the
mind and senses, there is no question of being
liberated from the entanglement of the material
world.

Related Values/Issues
Happiness where is it to be found?
Salvation by grace or personal endeavour?
Freedom personal, social, political?

Personal Reflection
Do you ever feel like dropping everything and making a clean break? Will it work, or will you
again feel entangled? Would it be responsible? On the other hand, can claims of being
responsible be excuses for not moving forward? Why do we sometimes remain attached to
situations that give us pain?
Do you ever feel that you are not really free, even when you are apparently enjoying
yourself? What is the nature of freedom?

Common Misunderstanding
Hindus believe that liberation is entirely dependent on personal spiritual
endeavour
Hindus have debated extensively the "grace versus works" polemic and developed many
sophisticated theologies acknowledging the role of God's grace. At the same time, they don't,
on the whole, totally exclude the role of personal endeavour.

Hindus consider liberation to be the highest good

Many do, but not all. For example, some Vaishnavas consider the desire for liberation to be
selfish and advocate a "fifth goal of life". This they describe as prema (love of God) or nitya-lila
(entrance into the eternal pastimes of the Lord)

Hinduism is world denying

Although Hinduism tends to be ultimately "world renouncing", it places much emphasis on
accepting our temporal needs and meeting them in a dignified fashion, rather than denying
them.

Scriptural Passages
"Though engaged in all kinds of activities, My pure devotee, under My protection, reaches the
eternal and imperishable abode by My grace."
Bhagavad-gita 18.56

"Perfection is characterised by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and
rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless spiritual happiness, realised
through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon
gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being so situated, one is never shaken even in
the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from
material contact."
Bhagavad-gita 6.2023

see also: Bhagavad-gita 4.9, 5.19, 5.24, 8.05

Meaning and Purpose

What is the purpose of life?
What is the goal of religion?
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"Heart of Hinduism" is Copyright: ISKCON Educational Services, 2004