Aptavani-2
507
Liberation is only attained through Gnan
Moksha cannot be attained by good actions. With good
actions, one binds punya, which rewards one with cars, homes
and all the other worldly pleasures. If one wants liberation, then
one has to follow the Lord’s instruction. Moksha is attained
through knowledge (Gnankriyabhyam moksha). These
pratikraman, samayik etc., are rituals of ignorance (agnan
kriya). Moksha cannot be attained through these external
activities. Moksha is attained through the actions of Gnan,
through gnan-kriya. Gnan-kriya is to remain as a knower-seer
and that itself is moksha. To know that which is to be known
(gneya) is Gnan kriya and to understand the gneya is darshan
kriya.
What causes bondage ?
How have you come into bondage? Is it through actions?
Is it because of a woman? Do you not have to investigate this?
It is only upon investigation that you will be able to find a way
to become free. You are bound only because of your ignorance
of the Self and so how can you become free by performing
external rituals? Can your wife free you? If your wife frees you,
can you be freed by your home? And would you be freed by
destroying attachment to worldly things? ‘The one bound
through ignorance of the Self can only be freed through Gnan,
the knowledge of the Self.’ As long as, ‘my mind’ exists you are
the owner of the mind (parigrahi) and when you become the
knower and seer of the mind then you are not the owner of the
mind (aparigrahi). ‘We’ are aparigrahi in the ocean of parigraha.
Are you bound through attachment and abhorrence (raag
and dwesh)? No. You are only bound through ignorance of the
Self (agnan). That ignorance is the root cause. The Vedanta
says, “Get rid of mud, vikshep and agnan and the Jains say get
rid of, raag, dwesh and agnan.” Ignorance is common to both
and it is the root cause. Raag, dwesh, mud and vikshep are the