Moksha means Liberation. According to Advaita Vedanta, Moksha is the last of Chaturvidha Purusharthas (four objects of human pursuit) which are Dharma (duty and righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire) and Moksha (liberation).
We all are already free and hence we already have Moksha. But unfortunately due to Avidya (ignorance) we are in Bandhana (bondage) and hence we do not realize our Moksha, get caught in the cycle of birth and death trying to exhaust accumulated Karma and in the process accumulate new Karma. This Avidya is beginningless but we can certainly put an end to it in this very life. When we get rid of our Avidya (ignorance) we gain the Jnana (Knowledge) of our true Self and instantaneously attain Moksha. A Self-Realised person is called Jnani and is Bandha Mukta (free from bondage) which is called Moksha (liberation).
What is the Jnani liberated from?
- Jnani is liberated from the identification of I with the ego-self. Ego becomes highly subdued because the Jnani clearly identifies "I" with the nameless, formless, Concentrating Entity or Pure Consciousness or Silent Awareness.
- Jnani is liberated from "desires" and "wants" because the ego-self does not reign supreme anymore. It is the ego that causes desires. Anyonya Adhyasa (Mutual Superimposition) of ego-self over true Self is no longer there and the Jnani is able to easily identify I with the Atman.
- Jnani is liberated from being bothered by continuous thoughts in the mind. Thoughts are always due to desires which in turn are due to ego-self. When there are no wants and there is no feeling of lacking what is there to think? Hence the mind automatically and effortlessly becomes calm, serene, quiet, pure and tranquil. Jnani does not have to put any effort (such as stilling the mind) to make the mind calm and become devoid of thoughts, instead it becomes Jnani's second nature.
- Jnani is liberated from attachments to worldly things as they no longer attract as they used to when he was not a Jnani.
- Jnani is liberated from the sway or the influence of Arishadvargas (band of six enemies). They are Kama (desire), Krodha (anger), Lobha (miserliness), Moha (obsession), Madha (pride) and Matsarya (jealousy).
- Jnani is liberated from the clutches of Pancha Kleshas (five poisons) such as Raaga (likes) and Dwesha (hate and dislikes).
- Jnani is liberated from alternating between pleasure and pain that are associated with gaining something or losing something.
- Jnani is liberated from the feelings associated with the praise and insults as he remains impervious to them.
- Jnani is liberated from fear. As a Jnani clearly identify oneself with nameless, formless, changeless, eternal Consciousness or Awareness, it makes the Jnani fearless and is liberated from all kinds of emotions.
- Jnani is liberated from engaging in unnecessary talks and gossips. They actually make a Jnani painful and restless and gets out of such environments asap.
- Jnani is extremely humble. For example, a successful runner due to pride might look down upon a crippled man. But if he is a Jnani, he would know that it is exactly the same Atman powering him as well as the crippled man, it is just that the other person’s body has defect and himself has been lucky to be blessed with an able body. Thus the pride and arrogance give way to humility and humbleness.
- Exactly the same feelings mentioned in the previous point allows a Jnani to engage in any action without having the feeling of ownership or doership. Jnani is always thankful and grateful for the Atman and for being blessed with the able mind and able body that has the capabilities to engage / perform a particular action.
- According to scriptures a Jnani is liberated from the cycle of birth and death.
There could be many more qualities. But the point is while trying to gain the Self-Knowledge as well as after gaining the Self-Knowledge there is a marked change in one’s personality as the transition happens from an Ajnani to a Jnani.
Of all the qualities mentioned above, the ability of the mind to remain without any thoughts is the most difficult challenge that needs to be overcome. It is not for nothing that Brahma Vidya (Self-Knowledge) is considered as the most difficult Vidya (Knowledge). But a Jnani effortlessly remains in a thought free state.
Though we all are Brahman, normally we exist as Jiva with the continuous barrage of thoughts in the mind.
The bottom line is to succeed in remaining in a thought free state. What happens in that state? In that state one exists as Pure Consciousness, Pure Awareness and that is the state of being in “I am Brahman” state and only in that state one becomes Brahman itself (Mundaka Upanishad 3.2.9).
To gain Moksha and to attain Self-Realisation and to exist as Pure Consciousness please read my answer to the question How can I attain Self-Realization according to Ramana Maharshi?
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