Journey beyond: How moksha brings us squarely to the twin realities of birth and death

The Sanskrit word Moksha is perhaps central to Hindu philosophy. It can be roughly translated as salvation but it does not really imply that. Moksha has far greater complexity than the word salvation connotes.

The idea of moksha is unique to Indian thought and culture. It is attainment of ultimate peace (Shanti), knowledge (Videh), and enlightenment (Kaivalya). The term refers to liberation of oneself from the cycle of death and rebirth. A commonmisconception among the western scholars is that moksha implies an escape from reality. Moksha rather helps to free us from the fear of death and takes us into a world beyond categories.

Moksha is a Sanskrit word meaning 'release' or 'liberation' from shackles of the world, from the cycle of birth-death-rebirth or more appropriately 'Incarnation'.

The concept of moksha, brings us squarely to the twin realities of birth and death. The desire not to be born and the desire to seek death are perhaps difficult to comprehend in a world dominated by the myth of total physical gratification in the here and now.

The logic simply directs to perform our worldly duties (dharma), acquire material wealth (artha) and realize desire (kama) to move towards the final goal that is salvation or moksha. Hinduism does not advocate a life of austerities but one of fulfillment and then final transcendence. Moksha like Hinduism is not just a belief or a concept but a way of life.

Content Courtesy: etemplesindia