Four Steps to Moksha - Liberation

The Path

Having shown the supreme goal of realising and knowing the Self, the Bhagavad-gita also gives the path. Just by saying, “I am that shuddha Atman which is birthless, deathless, having known which, I will become free of my sorrows, pain and will experience supreme peace and happiness,” my problems will not be solved.

Lord Krishna gives a very simple, yet, profound four-fold path. He emphatically points that if an individual follows it, that person will be able to recognize his/her own divine nature.  It is important, while on the path, to continue doing one’s daily work and leading a normal life. But, in and throughout all your ambitions and objectives, always be aware of this special agenda, this primary goal.

What is the four-fold path that helps us to go within and experience the Self? The first is karma yoga, second is upasana, third is jnana and the fourth is dhyana.

In the deep sleep state, we experience great joy and absolute peace without the need for any objects of the world. That happiness and peace is the same for all – a child, an elderly person, a literate or illiterate person, a king or a beggar. While awake, let us say, I eat food and feel happy. I feel that the happiness was due to the delicious food I ate. But when I go into deep sleep, without the need for any object or any other condition, I still feel happy. What does it mean? It indicates that happiness is my very nature. Without anything, I experience that happiness. But it is temporary. As soon as I wake up, the happiness disappears. It does not remain permanently. I get distracted and it goes.

The Bhagavad-gita teaches us how to gain that complete happiness and peace while awake. It shows us how to experience that great and infinite joy even while interacting in this world.

In the second chapter Sri Krishna describes the sthitaprajna – a Man of Realization.[1] When a person is totally free of all cravings and when he/she is content and satisfied in the Self completely, such a person is called a realized One. Whatever be the condition of the world outside, this person remains in the Self, ever content, ever happy and ever fearless.  In order to comprehend and realize this divinity, we have to go within and meditate. But first the mind has to be prepared – it has to become free of all other attachments and connections. It is only then that contemplation, leading to meditation, will be successful.

1 atmanyva atmatushtah sthitaprajnastadoschyate (2.55)

Blog No. 3 from “Guidance from the Bhagawad Gita” One blog from the series will be posted every week.

The author is the head of Chinmaya Mission Delhi and NCR. Swamiji will give discourses on Bhagavad Gita - ch. V from 1st to 7th January, 2015 at Chinmaya Mission, 89, Lodhi Road. All are cordially invited.