Moksha
Moksha, also referred to as mukti, is a significant concept primarily within Hinduism, representing liberation from the continual cycle of death and rebirth known as samsara. It is regarded as one of the four main goals of human life, termed Purusharthas, and is viewed as the ultimate stage of spiritual evolution. Achieving moksha entails the complete release of the spiritual self from the karmic ties that dictate reincarnation, allowing the individual to merge with the universal essence.
In Hinduism, the journey toward moksha involves fulfilling the other three Purusharthas: artha (material wealth), kama (desires), and dharma (social obligations). Each of these goals plays a crucial role in preparing an individual for the detachment necessary to attain moksha. Additionally, the concept of moksha is not exclusive to Hinduism; it resonates with similar ideas in other Indian religions, such as nirvana in Buddhism, which signifies liberation from suffering, and mukti in Sikhism, emphasizing the release from the cycle of rebirth. Ultimately, moksha is seen as the highest state of consciousness and self-actualization, embodying an individual's quest for spiritual fulfillment and unity with the cosmos.
Subject Terms
Moksha
Moksha, or mukti, is freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth. It is a concept in many Indian religions, particularly Hinduism. In Hinduism, it is one of the four primary aims of life, known as Purusharthas. Moksha is the final stage of spiritual development. When a person reaches moksha, the spiritual self is liberated and removed from the karmic reincarnation process.
Moksha in Hinduism
Hinduism is an ancient religion practiced by the majority of people in India and Nepal. While originally a participant had to be born a Hindu, modern Hinduism boasts large numbers of converts. It is considered both monotheistic and polytheistic, depending on the specific viewpoint. Hinduism worships large numbers of separate, independent aspects of a single supreme being. Hinduism is drawn from an ancient set of texts called the Vedas as well as from a variety of treatises and supplemental works related to the Vedas.
The karmic system is a central part of Hinduism's doctrines. Karma is the positive and negative stock of people's actions. If people act in a morally positive way, they receive good karma. If they act in a morally negative way, they receive bad karma. According to Hinduism, karma determines what happens to people when their lives end. Hindus believe that the souls of all things are reincarnated into another form after their bodies die. This process is known as samsara, the repeated cycles of birth and death caused by karma. A being with good karma will be reincarnated into a better form. A being with bad karma will fail to advance and will have to repeat the same stage again. A being's ultimate goal is to escape samsara by achieving moksha and finally being released from the cycle.
Purusharthas
According to Hinduism, human beings have four primary aims in life. The first of these, artha, revolves around material wealth. It encompasses the collection of physical objects and the comfort these objects bring. Artha is essential to being spiritually fulfilled because unfulfilled physical needs and desires distract people from their spiritual development. For this reason, artha may be fulfilled in two ways. The first is by completely satisfying all material desires. This means Hindus may gather material wealth until they feel completely satisfied. If this fails, a Hindu can transcend all material needs through study and meditation.
Kama, the fulfillment of desires, is the second primary aim for Hindus. Kama is a very broad aim, encompassing any and all desires in life. If a Hindu feels the need to become powerful and wealthy, to serve people, or to be famous, he should pursue that. Just as with artha, if a desire cannot be fulfilled, it must be transcended. Unfulfilled desire distracts from spiritual fulfillment.
The third primary aim for Hindus is dharma. Dharma is the obligation to caste and society, and it is the true purpose of a soul. Ancient Hindus operated in a strict system of social classes, called castes. A Hindu's caste was normally fixed from birth, inherited from the father. People from different castes were not allowed to marry, and each caste carried a set of strict rules and social obligations. The Brahminclass comprised priests and philosophers. These were the most privileged of society, but they were expected to always act virtuously. They also served as advisors to the king, giving them huge amounts of political influence. The Kshatriya, or warrior class, was just below Brahmin. Kings and nobles, as well as most of the military, were drawn from the Kshatriya. The Vaishya, the commoners and merchants, ranked below the Kshatriya. The Shudra, menial laborers, ranked below the Vaishya.
People born into different castes are said to have different dharmas. Every soul must fulfill their dharma before they can attain spiritual enlightenment. Warriors should become the best warriors they can be, while servants should become the best servants they can be. Hinduism acknowledges that on rare occasions, a person's dharma may be completely unrelated to their caste. Because of this, Hindus are advised to practice periodic introspection to find their true dharma. Hinduism also acknowledges that a Hindu's dharma may change throughout his lifetime.
Moksha is the last goal of the Purusharthas. When Hindus achieve moksha, they are removed from the karmic cycle entirely, becoming one with the universe. A Hindu can only achieve moksha if every other Purusharthas has been fulfilled. Hindus must have banished all attachments to this world from their lives. This means they must have completely neutral karma. Because good karma and bad karma are part of a system of rewards, punishments, and justice, both tie the soul to this world. Moksha is considered the supreme level of consciousness and self-actualization.
Moksha in Other Religions
Several other Indian religions share the concept of moksha. Buddhists believe in nirvana, a state of spiritual salvation and liberation that removes one from all suffering. Followers of Jainism believe that all karma of any kind must be eliminated before one can escape the reincarnation cycle, or reach moksha. Sikhism posits that the soul is reborn numerous times. Rebirth is determined by the actions and the consequences of those actions. The cycle of rebirth is broken when mukti is attained.
Bibliography
Gurumaa, Anandmurti. "What Is Moksha?" The Economic Times, 19 Apr. 2023, economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/speaking-tree/what-is-moksha/articleshow/99621518.cms?from=mdr. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
MacRae, Karen. "A (Very, Very, Very) Brief Introduction to Hinduism in India." The Slow Road, www.butterfield.com/blog/2015/08/19/a-very-very-very-brief-introduction-to-hinduism-in-india/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"Religions: At a Glance." BBC, 29 Sept. 2009, www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/ataglance/glance.shtml. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"Religions: Moksha." BBC, 19 July 2006, www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/beliefs/moksha.shtml. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.