Invitation to World Religions

110  CHAPTER 4  Hinduism

would seem to be appealing. Hinduism’s answer is simple: beyond the samsaric realm lies something inex- pressibly better. Moksha  Freedom from the bondage of samsara is achieved through moksha, “release” or “liberation.” Having overcome attachments to this world, the atman realizes its true nature. For monistic Hindus, moksha is the realization of the union of the atman and Brahman, such that no sense of individuality any longer exists. For dualistic or devotional Hindus, for whom the divine re- ality is identified with their supreme God (be it Vishnu, Shiva, or another), moksha involves the eternal existence of the atman in the company of God. Hindus also have differing opinions on whether moksha can occur for a living person or whether it must await death of the phys- ical body. For all Hindus, however, moksha marks the end of the samsaric cycle of rebirth and the end of the effects of karma. Like Brahman, moksha is virtually im- possible to describe, beyond being characterized—also like Brahman—as infinite awareness and eternal bliss. The quest for moksha, for liberating oneself from samsara even while constrained by the limits of this world, is extremely challenging. Hinduism offers three main paths to moksha, each of which provides the means of eradicating ignorance and egoistic attachment and thus freeing the atman.

Three Paths to Liberation Typical of the diverse nature of Hinduism, there are a variety of approaches to the goal of liberation. Traditionally, they have been categorized as three paths, or margas (also called yogas), each one featuring its own set of practices and being suited to certain personality traits and life situations. Karma marga , for those engaged in the activities of family and career, emphasizes ritual and ethical works. Bhakti marga , for the vast majority of Hindus who regularly worship in temples and in their homes, is devotion to a deity. Jnana marga , for those privileged to devote time and energy on study and contemplation, focuses on spiritual insight. The paths are by no means exclusive of one another: Hindus commonly engage in more than one. Almost all Hindus, for example, practice some form of bhakti marga, and karma marga is a natural way to approach life’s everyday tasks. All three margas function to diminish the ignorance, attachment, and false identification of the self with the physical body that characterizes life in the samsaric realm. A sannyasi, or Hindu ascetic. His sectarian affiliation is indicated by his forehead marking, which demonstrates that he is a worshipper of Vishnu. PROPERTY OF OXFORD

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