The Concept of Mokha Classical Indian Philosophy YouTube Lecture Handouts
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Topic: Classical Indian Philosophy
Subtopic: The concept of Mokha
- The term “moksha” literally means “release” in the sense of “letting go.”
- Moksha means union with the supreme reality, God.
- The Upanishads describe moksha as the highest condition where there is a disintegration of the concept of individuality.
- Another definition of moksha given by Upanishads is, as the flowing rivers disappear in the sea, losing their name and form, thus a wise man, freed from thy name and form, goes to the divine who is beyond all.
- The state of moksha is Ananda or infinite bliss.
- Moksha is nothing but oneness between the self or the atman and the supreme or Brahman.
- Some of the means accepted by the different schools of philosophy for Moksha are;
- Obedience to God
- Performing righteous actions
- Performing Vedic actions
- Attaining Knowledge of God brahma-Jnana
- Attaining the knowledge of the religious scriptures vidya
- Showing devotion towards God or prapatti
- Introspection on the Self
- Meditation (focus on God) or upasana
- Complete surrender of oneself to God gurupasatti
- The two conflicting views on “Moksha,” accepted by different schools are;
- Moksha is the state of likeness to God
- Moksha is the state of one-ness with God
- Moksha is the state of likeness to God
- This view is adopted by Visishtadvaita Vedanta by Ramanuja
- Moksha or liberation means becoming like God.
- Liberation is the realization about the nature of God gained by the individual soul.
- Moksha is the state of one-ness with God.
- Advaita Vedanta school of Sankara accepts this view.
- Liberation is the realization of the one-ness between atman and Brahman.
Note: Carvaka says death is Liberation.
Moksha brings ends to the cycle of re-birth.
Questions
1. Mokha means Atman becoming like Brahman is accepted by
A. Shankaracharya
B. Ramanuja
C. Jaimini
D. Patanjali
Answer: B
Explanation: Moksha is the state of likeness to God
This view is adopted by Visishtadvaita Vedanta by Ramanuja
2. The state of Moksha is called
A. Jnana
B. Ananda
C. Sukha
D. Both B and C
Answer: B
Explanation: The state of moksha is Ananda or infinite bliss.
Whereas sukha simply means happiness.
3. Moksha literally means
A. Union
B. Likeness
C. Both A and B
D. Letting go
Answer: D
Explanation: The term “moksha” literally means “release” in the sense of “letting go.”
Option A and B are the two varying interpretations of the concept accepted by the different schools.
✍ Manishika