Historical Perspectives of Liberation In Hinduism

Abstract

The idea of liberation m Indian spiritual tradition is a very vast subject. All Indian philosophy is designed to show man a way to release him from his present state of existence. Even the Indian materialist, Cbaroak:«, spoke of moksha which na- turally meant for him physical death. There is a logic behind this conception of the materialist. Whatever else release may mean, all Indian philosophical systems affirm that release is a state in which there is no pain or suffering. Chiirviika, materia- list in metaphysics and hedonist in ethics, believed pleasure to be the goal of life which implied avoidance of pain. But, un- fortunately, as long as man is physically alive, he cannot avoid pain altogether. So not to be alive is the one sure way of being com- pletely free from pain. Of course, the materialist says that one should not refrain from pursuing pleasure because it can never be free from pain. For, who would refuse to pluck a rose because its thorn might prick his finger?