Emancipation of the self

The ultimate aim of monasticism and related religious endeavours is the attainment by the individual of a state free from bondage as understood within the belief system in question. The meanings attached to such terms as salvation, liberation and emancipation vary from culture to culture and are closely related to the society's concept of the individual, the mind, the soul, the spirit, and his place within the universe.

Various concepts may be grouped under the idea of emancipation, all referring to realization of the self. Examples are: moksha, liberation through love; kaivalya, liberation through yogic practice; nirvana, the result of practising the Buddhist eightfold way. It appears that none of these is identical to another although all imply surrender of the individual self to realize awareness of the eternal one Self. Some schools of thought see the final act of emancipation as irreversible and coinciding with death of the body and mind – videha mukti; this is the basis of mythic yoga. Liberation in this life – jivan mukti – is, however, deemed possible by some schools as it is in Buddhism – nirvana as opposed to pari-nirvana.