Tenth International Conference on Religion & Spirituality in Society

Abstract

Based on original Upanishadic statements, I argue in this paper that the Upanishadic concept of mukti (liberation) actually means jivan mukti (liberation while living) as a canonical construct. I also attempt to show that jivan mukti is an experienced state within the range of ordinary human capacities. Stripped of all its details, jivan mukti is the process of shifting from a dehatma bhava or aham bhava (ordinary or everyday experience of selfhood as a time-limited, perishable, mind-body complex) to that of sarvatma bhava (selfhood as a non-dual plenary entity) which is free of all pain, blissful and deathless. All of humanity is capable of experiencing a non-dual state of total freedom from pain and suffering, as a quotidian event, as evidenced in the state of sushupti (dreamless sleep), when Indriyas (sense organs) have come to rest. It is a form of sarvatmabhava with limitations. It is ensconced in avidya or ignorance and is temporary. Thus, an experience on non-duality in itself is not alien to lay humans. Upanishads rely on the human capacity for vasana (conditioned learning) to create a cognitive shift in one’s self image from that of a dehatmabhava to sarvatmabhava. The praxis includes minimalizing indriya activity to facilitate sarvatmabhava and for developing a lasting vasana for the Upanishadic Purusha (nondual self). Every aspect of experiencing and maintaining a state of jivan mukti is organically present and inherently accessible by us, even as we live a vapid existence.