Advaita holds that freedom is not produced but recognised: one is already Brahman, and liberation is the removal of ignorance, possible even while living (jivanmukti).
A question
How do I become free?
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Editorial overview
Nearly all Indian traditions frame the highest goal as freedom — moksha, mukti, kaivalya or nirvana — from bondage to ignorance, craving or karma. They differ on what freedom is and how it comes: knowledge of the Self in Advaita, isolation of consciousness from nature in Sankhya-Yoga, the ending of craving in Buddhism, the shedding of karmic matter in Jainism, and loving union or service through grace in the bhakti schools. The Gita offers several paths — action, knowledge, meditation and devotion — and treats them as converging.
Concepts involved
Philosophical perspectives
Different answers, each in its own terms. None is ranked.
Patanjali describes the goal as kaivalya, the aloneness of pure consciousness when the mind's activity has ceased and it no longer mistakes itself for nature.
Buddhist schools describe nirvana as the extinguishing of craving, aversion and delusion, reached through the Noble Eightfold Path.
Jainism teaches that liberation comes from right faith, right knowledge and right conduct, which stop and destroy karmic matter so the soul rises to its natural omniscience.
In Ramanuja's view the liberated self retains its individuality and enjoys God eternally; freedom comes through devotion, surrender and grace.
Kashmir Shaivism frames liberation as recognition (pratyabhijna) that one's own awareness is Shiva, a freedom that embraces the world rather than escaping it.
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2.50
Yoga is the true skill in action
कर्मोंमें योग ही कुशलता है
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते।
One endowed with evenness is freed from both merit and sin here itself; so devote yourself to Yoga — Yoga alone is skill in action.
समतायुक्त मनुष्य यहीं पुण्य-पाप दोनोंसे मुक्त हो जाता है; अत: योगमें लग जा, कर्मोंमें योग ही कुशलता है।
Equanimity frees one in this very life; yoga is skill in action. Freedom begins inside everyday work.
Go deeper
- 1 · Gita verseBhagavad Gita 5.24The one whose happiness and light are within attains the peace of Brahman.
- 2 · Gita verseBhagavad Gita 18.66The final teaching: take refuge and do not grieve.
- 3 · Conceptमोक्षMoksha — liberationHow different schools define liberation.
- 4 · Conceptनिर्वाणNirvanaThe Buddhist understanding of release.
- 5 · Traditionजैन दर्शनJain philosophyLiberation as purification of the soul.
Primary sources
References to the texts behind each perspective.
The Gita’s answer
Grounded in Sadhak Sanjivani.
- How do I stop worrying about how things will turn out?Swamiji points out that how things turn out belongs to the department of results, which is under prarabdha; what is in your hands is the present action (2.47). Krishna asks Arjuna not to hanker even for 'yoga-kshema' — gaining what is lacking and keeping what is gained (2.45) — and promises that for those who are devoted to Him alone, He himself carries this (9.22). His final assurance is 'mā śucaḥ', do not grieve (18.66). Swamiji adds that for one who has taken refuge, even his own shortcomings become God's to set right; fear and worry only obstruct the surrender, and his work is simply to remain at God's feet, carefree (18.66).
- What is real peace?Krishna says the one whose mind and senses are not disciplined has no settled aim and no selfless attitude, and without that there is no peace — and without peace, how can there be happiness (2.66)? Peace comes to the one into whom enjoyments enter like rivers into the full ocean, leaving it undisturbed — not to the one who desires them (2.70). Swamiji explains that when a person becomes free of desire, getting or not getting things causes no inner disturbance; the one with desires remains restless either way (2.70). One who gives up desire, longing, 'mine' and 'I' attains peace (2.71), and giving up the desire for the fruit of action brings peace immediately (12.12, 5.12).
- Do I have to leave the world to be spiritual?Swamiji says many texts advise giving everything up and going into solitude, but the Gita teaches the art of reaching the highest while living in the world: wherever you are, whatever your background, follow the Gita there (2.38). If a person can attain the highest even in a war, there is no situation in which it cannot be done (2.38). Merely giving up work does not bring perfection (3.4); the true sannyasi and yogi is the one who does his duty without depending on its fruit (6.1). Outer renunciation is not real renunciation — even in solitude the body goes with you; it is desire, 'mine' and attachment that bind, not the world (18.11).
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