|
Routes to Moksha |
Moksha means "release" or "liberation." It is the fourth and ultimate goal, or artha, of
Hindu life, the release from the round of rebirth, or samara, in lower worlds. Because
moksha is attained when one has overcome ignorance, there is more than one way toward
the goal. The three main ways are collectively known as marga, the Way. They are jamma, the
way of knowledge, or insight, bhakti, the way of devotion, and karma, the way of action.
Because one may be reborn millions of times, there is no pressure to attempt all these ways in a single
lifetime. The important truth is to take up, in any lifetime, whatever seems appropriate for it - this
is known as dhamra. In some forms of Tantra, it may be necessary to do things that are against
ordinary dharma, in order to aquire power to pass beyond all aspects of life on earth. This means
that moksha is not really a "goal" at all because it can only be attained when all desire and
attachment, including the desire for moksha, has been abandoned. One who attains moksha while
in life is known as jivan-mukta, or free soul. There is no single savior or redeemer; there are
many sects, guides, gurus, and gods who will assist those who seek their help. A prayer from the
Upanishads sums up the quest: "From the unreal, lead me to the real; from darkness, lead me
to light; from death, lead me to immortality."
|
|
Roles in Life: The family unit is very important within India, and in Hinduism the role
of householder, or grihastha, is one of the stages of life through which every Hindu should
ideally pass in order to escape eventually from samsara, or reincarnation. The role of
student, or brahmacarya, would, circumstances permitting, precede that of householder. The is
one reason why education is regarded as very important, since it plays a role in the development of
future spiritual enlightenment.
|
The Life of a Sadhu: A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, depends on the laity for sustenance. He
carries a brass begging bowl for receiving gifts of food or money, and is sometimes approached by
the laity for religious guidance or to seek darshan of a sadhu. A sadhu should live outside,
away from society. He should wear few clothes and undergo ritual penances, such as fasting or yogic
exercises.These penances are supposed to engender tapas, or heat, to transform the inner
state or the sidhu so he can achieve moksha.
|
|
Tantric Hinduism: Tantric Hinduism is an unorthodox form of Hinduism in which followers
do not seek to perform orthodox dharma in order to gain liberation, but try to gain this
liberation by acquiring siddhi, spiritual or supernatural power, and bukhti, pleasure
in higher worlds. They also consider the body to be a microcosm of the cosmos and emphasize
shakti, the dynamic female energy represented by the Mother Goddess. Male energy, represented
by Shiva, is considered powerless without the presense of the female. Tantric Hinduism also teaches
that gods can be worshiped only by other gods, so the worshiper is deified by reciting mantras,
or prayers. These ideas come from Tantric ritual texts, which date from between the 7th and 11th
centuries, although the ideas and traditions may be older. The texts often take the form of
conversations between Shiva and his consort. Some forms of Tantrism are very extreme. Some of the
less extreme forms have been absorbed into orthodox Hinduism in different parts of India. The more
extreme forms seem to derive from the practices of ascetics living in cremation grounds. In
order to gain power and make an offering to the god, some rituals may involve breaking orthodox taboos,
such as sexual intercourse between people of different castes, or using wine, meat, fish, and parched
grain in sacrifice or ritual.
|
|
|
|
