#jivanmukta

Photo by Mr. G.G. Welling. 

Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950),  the Indian sage who was widely regarded as a Jivanmukta

Jivanmukta

In Advaita Vedanta, the interest is not in liberation in after life, but in one's current life. This school holds that liberation can be achieved while living, and a person who achieves this is called a Jivanmukta.

The concept of Jivanmukti of Advaita Vedanta contrasts with Videhamukti (moksha from samsara after death) in theistic sub-schools of Vedanta. 

Jivanmukti  is a state that transforms the nature, attributes and behaviors of an individual, after which the liberated individual shows attributes such as:

he is not bothered by disrespect and endures cruel words, treats others with respect regardless of how others treat him;

when confronted by an angry person he does not return anger, instead replies with soft and kind words;

even if tortured, he speaks and trusts the truth;

he does not crave for blessings or expect praise from others;

he never injures or harms any life or being (ahimsa), he is intent in the welfare of all beings;

he is as comfortable being alone as in the presence of others;

he is as comfortable with a bowl, at the foot of a tree in tattered robe without help, as when he is in a mithuna (union of mendicants), grama (village) and nagara (city);

he does not care about or wear sikha (tuft of hair on the back of head for religious reasons), nor the holy thread across his body. To him, knowledge is sikha, knowledge is the holy thread, knowledge alone is supreme. Outer appearances and rituals do not matter to him, only knowledge matters;

for him there is no invocation nor dismissal of deities, no mantra nor non-mantra, no prostrations nor worship of gods, goddess or ancestors, nothing other than knowledge of Self;

he is humble, high spirited, of clear and steady mind, straightforward, compassionate, patient, indifferent, courageous, speaks firmly and with sweet words.

The intense longing for Truth of many matured aspirants on Earth naturally brings forth the Supreme in the form of a Sadguru such as Sri Ramana.

ॐ

He who, while continuing to live a life in the body and world, has known the body and the world to be [nothing but] consciousness [or Self], will delude others as if He were bound by the body and world. [Therefore] who can know [the real nature of] a Mukta from His face [that is, by seeing His mere outward appearance]?

Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of Guru’s Sayings) by Sri Muruganar -  Ch. The Nature of Those who Abide as Self - Verse 1171

Sadhu Om: 

O intenso anseio pela Verdade de muitos aspirantes amadurecidos na Terra naturalmente traz o Supremo na forma de um Sadguru como Sri Ramana.

ॐ

Aquele que, enquanto continua a viver uma vida no corpo e no mundo, sabe que o corpo e o mundo não são senão consciência [ou o Ser], confundirá os outros como se Ele estivesse ligado ao corpo e ao mundo. [Portanto] quem pode conhecer [a verdadeira natureza de] um Mukta através do Seu rosto [isto é, vendo meramente a Sua aparência externa]?

Guru Vachaka Kovai (Grinalda das Palavras do Guru) de Sri Muruganar - Capítulo A Natureza Daqueles que Permanecem no Ser - Versículo 1171

Sadhu Om:

Sri Ramana Darsanam (pdf) - Sadhu Natanananda

Image from Pinterest Daily kolam at Ramana Maharshi ashram in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu.

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Association with Sats (Sages) - 1

Exegesis: The term Sat means the Absolute or Brahman. That Satvastu cannot obviously be an object of meditation for It transcends intellect and words. There are but forms set forth verily as forms of That — Sat — and worthy of being meditated upon. One such is identified as the form of a jīvanmukta. He also named Sat, may, in all possibility, traverse the terra firma in a body, by the sheer blessed good fortune of many aspirants who approach him. Early Release may be vouchsafed by close proximity to — and association with — him.

Verse 1

By the association with Sats - the realized sages - the leanings towards the world (links with world and worldly attachments) will drop off. With leanings removed, mental delusion (māyā, nescience on which the mind leans on) will get destroyed. Those who are released from mental delusions, having become one with the “Moveless Brahman” — the Transcendental Reality — have attained jīvanmukti or Liberation while alive. Seek out and cultivate their company ardently.