It is very difficult for me to explain the meaning of liberation to a layman. To put in simple words, liberation is of many types- for example, liberation which is absolutely free from re-birth, liberation while having a re-birth in which great happiness is enjoyed and so on.

Spiritual austerities consist of many steps such as penance (japa, tapa), cultivating noble traits, abstaining from harming others for one’s personal gain, maintaining friendship with the noble minded (satsang), adherence to truthfulness, being inclined towards charitable activities and adherence to one’s duties as laid down per scriptures (dharma). In addition, married couples follow the dharma as specified for them.

However, before beginning any of these austerities, the fundamental requisite is to develop faith in God. Those desirous of attaining liberation (moksha) should at first develop total faith in God. This is the very first sadhana (spiritual practice)!

Bhakti (devotion) means developing feelings of total surrender (samarpana bhava). Leaving everything to God is samarpana bhava. ‘My life belongs to you, my breath belongs to you, everything that I have belongs to you’ .. such deep feelings should be developed. Surrender should reach this stage. This is bhakti sadhana.

When devotion reaches such stage, spiritual knowledge (jnana) automatically sprouts in the person. With such knowledge, the realization about ‘I, you, Paramatma’ will dawn. Then comes dispassion (vairagya). The realization that ‘only the Supreme Lord is real existence. There is nothing apart from Him’ will arise in the person. After such dispassion is attained, liberation comes automatically.

To obtain liberation, all spiritual practices must be adhered to. Merely listening to spiritual discourses will not help unless you put them into practice. What are the spiritual steps?

First step is to listen to spiritual subjects. This is called Śravana. Recapitulating what is heard is the next step. This is Manana. Along with it, spiritual disciplines must be adopted. In addition to these three, Mathana should be undertaken. Mathana means posing questions to yourself and seeking answers. Here remember that questions cannot be put forth to others. Ask yourself; the answer will come from within you.

If devotion (bhakti), spiritual disciplines (sadhana) and mathana are accomplished, liberation is obtained!

Do not presume that liberation means reaching Vaikuntha, enjoying the sight of the vast milky ocean, having darshan of Vishnu who is resting on a snake bed, watching the apsaras (damsels) who are dancing. This is absolutely wrong. This is cinema moksha, available only in theatres. Real moksha has no Vaikunṭha and no dancing damsels (apsaras). It is a state of absolute bliss (Ananda) without causing injury (himsa) to any other living being. Living on Earth without being a burden to mother Earth is itself moksha. That is Paramatma.

Also, there is no rule that mantra chanting (japa) should be done only with specified clothes, at a specified time and place and with a rosary (japamala) in the hand. Mantra should be chanted 24/7. Along with the breath the mantra must be chanted. The restrictions that have been put are only for controlling the mind and to discipline the body and the senses. They aim to ensure the mind comes under control. That’s all. But japa should be done at all times.

(Q&A Bangalore 11 Nov 2015)