5 steps to the path of liberation in Hinduism

In Hinduism, attaining liberation from the cycle of life and death is the ultimate goal of every human on Earth. The will to attain Moksha makes humans do good, wish well, and lead a life of simplicity and goodness. Without a strong desire to seek and attain liberation, men and women remain stuck in material pursuits and the cycle of karma.And the fruits of Moksha, from earning a place in Vaikuntha to never having to experience the ills of human life, are enough to help people develop a will for liberation. But how does a human attain this liberation? Here are the 5 most pure and important steps.

Bhakti, or devotion, is one of the easiest and pure ways to achieve liberation from the cycle of life and death. In bhakti, humans surrender themselves to a deity, or to a Guru, and they dedicate their life to the higher power. There is unconditional love, trust, respect, and unity with the divine, and the whole purpose of their life becomes being one with the divine power. Bhakti is about chanting prayers, and hymns, meditating on the form and qualities of the divine, dedicating their life to spreading the word of God, and more.

Another way to attain liberation, or moksha, is through selfless service. Selfless service, a form of Karma yoga, is the act that humans do without attachment to their outcomes. This comes from Lord Krishna’s explanation to Arjuna about performing his duties but not wishing or expecting any rewards for the same. The Bhagavad Gita mentions ‘Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana’.

In layman’s understanding, Satsang is only about sitting together and singing hymns and songs and mantras, but when understood literally, Satsang is the group and association of enlightened beings and like-minded spiritual people. Through Satsang, a group of people with similar and positive motives, humans take a step ahead onto the path of liberation. When people participate in Satsangs, they develop a deeper and better understanding of the world around them, and how it is important to rise above the material. Through Satsang, humans help each other achieve their common goals.

Studying the Vedas and other holy scriptures is a part of Jnana yoga, also called ‘Gyan yog’, and is a means of acquiring knowledge. After all, it is only with knowledge that a person can rise above material desires and unite with the divine. Jnana yoga is about studying sacred texts such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and other scriptures, and on the way, humans learn the nature of reality, the self, and the ultimate truth.

In Hinduism, another way of attaining liberation and moksha is through honouring your ancestors and respecting them even after they have passed. This is why the days of Shraad, and the rituals of Pind daan, Tarpan, and the like are done religiously by Hindus all over the world. It is said that performing these rituals for the departed souls helps them attain peace, and then they help their children on Earth live a successful and fulfilling life. Some people also believe that as every Hindu is under Pitr rin, or ancestral debt, performing Shraad rituals helps clear or lower these karmic debts.

For Hindus, Moksha is the end of the cycle of birth and death. When a soul attains Moksha, the cycle of Samsara ends, and their souls unite with the divine energies, never having to come back to Earth. For Hindus, Moksha is the definition of eternal bliss, freedom, and unity with the Divine. Attaining moksha is the ultimate goal of the soul, and is achieved after rising above ‘Dharm, Artha, and Kama’.

Attaining moksha, the ultimate liberation is not an easy route and is believed to be achieved only by a select few. Even when humans try their best, they can get stuck in material objectives and aims that hold them back! Wanting money, luxury, and riches, being egoistic about things they have achieved, not helping their fellow man, and simple, everyday things are what stand between the path to liberation and the path to rebirth, only to continue the same cycle all over again.