Miscellaneous - Religion   

Release from bondage

CHENNAI: Salvation or liberation from the cycle of birth being the ultimate goal of human existence, it is also a fact that the route to this goal is beset with hurdles. Countless Jivatmas have gone through several births without even realising the purpose of life. In philosophical language one who desires salvation is called a Mumukshu, and scriptures illustrate such a person’s mental state with the analogy of an insect that is impatient for release from the heated iron plate in which it is trapped. The implication is that the Jivatma’s longing for release from Samsara has to be sustained, strong and single minded.

This is possible only when one is able to reject all the happiness of the material world in preference to something more permanent and everlasting, said Sri C. L. Ramakrishnan in a lecture. The Upanishads teach this valuable knowledge (Vidya) pertaining to salvation by pointing out the ephemeral nature of all the happiness of the material world so that permanent release is sought.

Lord Krishna reinforces the truth that a Jivatma’s Karma is the root cause for being cast in Samsara and He offers the means to absolve oneself of this debilitating Karma through the practice of Karma yoga. As long as one is born into this world, since it is not possible to remain idle and inactive, one starts accruing the consequences of actions, leading to the cycle of birth. How then is one to get the release from human bondage? The Lord says that while every action of the Jivatma has to be dedicated to the Lord, every Jivatma should learn to renounce the fruits of all actions. Practice of Karma Yoga in this spirit is the only means by which the seed of Karma which is the cause of Samsara can be broken and nullified.

The Katopanishad teaches the spirit of renunciation through the determined spirit of Nachiketas who is not tempted by all the attractive offers of Yama which he understood to be subject to time and would have to end eventually. He instead seeks the highest instruction from Yama, eager to know what happens to the Self after death. The Supreme Truth cannot be learnt from books and can be grasped from realised souls who have apprehended it.

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