Sriram
New Member
Self-Realization and Liberation. Are they one and the same? Or is there any difference? They are generally thought of as one and the same. for some saints Self-Realization and Liberation happen together. But it is quite possible that one can realize the Self and think he has reached the ultimate, but one may not be liberated. One may realize the Self one day, but cry for the death of his dog the next day. Patanjali says Samadhi is the beginning of spiritual life. Yes, Self-Realization is an intermediate goal and the Liberation the final goal. They might happen together or not. Only when one is free of his final vaasana or tendency, one can be said to be liberated. It is common that someone does meditation and knows the Self and thinks he's done, and it is time to teach others. With the knowledge of the Self one can teach others, but as far as liberation is concerned he is still a student. That makes the goals clear. Self-Observation is a means that will take one to both goals. It is a meditation in itself and makes one learn his weaknesses and be free of them, get more and more refined and then liberated.
I would say one is Liberated when he has the freedom to laugh when he is in deep trouble. An indian saint prescribes this as a practice even in the early stages.
Somewhere I read about a liberated student who was so much sorrowful in his guru's death bed that he wanted to die with him. It was strange. The ending of sorrow and misery is the definition of liberation and the guy hasn't ended it. Not that one should become cold. There was a possibility for the student to be compassionate and take good care of his guru till his last breath with a smile. That is liberation. J.Krishnamurti said sorrow is because of self-pity. He is right. The student was pitying for himself that he is no more going to have a guru. We come alone and go alone. Integration has to happen within oneself and from that all relationships should be well maintained. When we emerge as an individual and are on our own, we are out of trouble.
I would say one is Liberated when he has the freedom to laugh when he is in deep trouble. An indian saint prescribes this as a practice even in the early stages.
Somewhere I read about a liberated student who was so much sorrowful in his guru's death bed that he wanted to die with him. It was strange. The ending of sorrow and misery is the definition of liberation and the guy hasn't ended it. Not that one should become cold. There was a possibility for the student to be compassionate and take good care of his guru till his last breath with a smile. That is liberation. J.Krishnamurti said sorrow is because of self-pity. He is right. The student was pitying for himself that he is no more going to have a guru. We come alone and go alone. Integration has to happen within oneself and from that all relationships should be well maintained. When we emerge as an individual and are on our own, we are out of trouble.