Real Aim: Union With Brahman

Sri Ramana Maharshi

Is there any connection between the attainment of supernatural powers (siddhis) and iberation

(mukti)?

Enlightened enquiry alone leads to Liberation. Supernatural powers are all illusory appearances created by the power of maya (mayashakti). Self-realization which is permanent is the only true accomplishment (siddhi). Accomplishments which appear and disappear, being the effect of maya, cannot be real. They are accomplished with the object of enjoying fame, pleasures, etc. They come unsought to some persons through their karma. Know that union with Brahman is the real aim of all accomplishments. This is also the state of Liberation (aikya mukti) known as union (sayujya).

If this is the nature of Liberation (moksha) why do some scriptures connect it with the body and say that the individual soul can attain Liberation only when it does not leave the body?

It is only if bondage is real that liberation and the nature of its experiences have to be considered. So far as the Self (purusha) is concerned it has really no bondage in any of the four states. As bondage is merely a verbal assumption according to the emphatic proclamation of the Vedanta system, how can the question of liberation, which depends upon the question of bondage, arise when there is no bondage? Without knowing this truth, to enquire into the nature of bondage and liberation, is like enquiring into the non-existent height, color etc. of a barren woman's son or the horns of a hare.

If that is so, do not the descriptions of bondage and release found in the scriptures become irrelevant and untrue?

No, they are not. The firm conviction that there is neither bondage nor liberation is the supreme purpose of all efforts. As this purpose of seeing boldly, through direct experience, that bondage and liberation do not exist, cannot be achieved except with the aid aforesaid practices, these efforts are useful.

Is there any authority for saying that there is neither bondage nor liberation?

This is decided on the strength of experience and not merely on the strength of the scriptures.

If it is experience, how is it experienced?

Bondage and liberation are mere linguistic terms. They have no reality of their own. Therefore they cannot function of their own accord. It is necessary to accept the existence of some basic thing of which they are the modifications. If one enquires, for whom is there bondage and liberation, it will be seen 'they are for me'. ?If one enquires 'who am I?' one will see that there s no such thing as the 'I'. It will be as clear as amalaka fruit in one's hand that what remains is one's real being. As this truth will be naturally and clearly experienced by those who leave aside mere verbal discussions and enquire into themselves inwardly, there is no doubt that all realized persons uniformly see neither bondage nor liberation so far as the true Self is concerned.