" Liberation ... "

Take my hand,

I've changed my mind again

Really, I believed it true ...

But I was wrong,

I've learned that lesson well

All the way back home at midnight

You were sleeping on my shoulder ...

To free in me

The trust, I never dared

I always thought the risk too great

But suddenly, I don't hesitate, so

Take my hand,

Don't think of complications

Now, right now,

Your love is liberation

Liberation

~ Pet Shop Boys ~ Liberation ~

***

The thought of liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth is exciting.  To strive hard and perform good deeds, so that your soul may rest in peace after death ... Moksha (liberation) or Mukti (release).  When a person attains Moksha they are free of suffering and pain.  And we all know that it sucks to get old.  I for one want a healthy life over a long one.

So how does one truly achieve Moksha?

Well Moksha is a very broad term ... peace, knowledge and enlightenment are used to describe it.  Yet Moksha within the Hindu religion, is self realization and knowing ones purpose.  The ultimate unification of man and God.  It means eternal freedom from social and natural programming.  It comes from letting loose or letting go.  And it can be attained while living on earth by four paths:

• selfless work
• self dissolving love
• deep meditation
• total discernment

Believing that the body is not identical with the soul ... the body assumes the qualities from association ... the eye, the ear, or any other sense organ or for that matter, the body itself incorporating the mind and intellect, is a mere instrument whose functioning is made possible by the soul.

So, the real Moksha or freedom is to realize the fact that “I” awareness is a physical awareness, which is not self-awareness.  Which leads to what self-awareness is .... when the formless soul or consciousness remains aware of its one non dual true nature. 

Hm mm a lot to consider when you thought your 

Moksha Yoga class was just another name/style 

to describe shapes on a matt ...

Now some may or may not believe in reincarnation, soul separate from body and/or even God.  But personally, the idea of serving others, selflessly is resonates with me.  That feeling when you spring into action, become a hero, help the hopeless, and just be present doing good in the world.  Is it too much of a “kumbaya” moment ... maybe.  But if this increases my chances of freedom from all suffering, then sign me up.

" Maha Shivratri ... "

Today my parents and I had the opportunity to join fellow Hindus and celebrate Shivratri, an auspicious moment in reverence of Lord Shiva.  Referred to as Maha Shivratri, this occurs every year on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna.  Shivratri (Sanskrit ‘ratri’ = night) is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.  The festival is observed for one day and one night only.

We travelled to our local mandir and participated in the ceremonial offerings of milk, rice, sindoor, fruit and other foods all whilst our Pandit-ji narrated ancient scriptures.  We chanted the sacred mantra dedicated to Lord “Om Namah Shivaya”, meaning “I bow to Shiva”.  

Out of interest, it has been said that if this powerful mantra vibrates continually in your heart, then you have no need to perform austerities, to meditate, or to practise yoga.  To repeat this mantra you need no rituals or ceremonies, nor must you repeat it at an auspicious time or in a particular place.  This mantra is free of all restrictions. It can be repeated by anyone, young or old, rich or poor and no matter what state a person is in, it will purify him.

Hindus believe that the worship of Lord Shiva with devotion and sincerity absolves a devotee of past sins.  The devotee reaches the abode of Lord Shanker, lives there happily and is liberated from the cycle of birth and death, attaining moksha or salvation.

Yet to truly understand the origins of Shivratri, we have to look at the ancient Vedic literature.  Accordingly, Shivratri comes from the great mythical churning of the ocean called Samudra Manthan, from which a pot of poison emerged.  The poison was so potent that it had the power to destroy the whole Universe.  The Gods and demons were terrified so when Lord Shiva was called to protect the world, he drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it.  This turned his throat blue and since then he came to be known as Nilkantha, the blue-throated one.  By drinking the poison, Lord Shiva sacrificed himself for the safety of humanity ... hence Shivratri celebrates this event by which Shiva saved the world.

So regardless of your spiritual practice, today can be an opportunity to expand your consciousness.  The Calgary Hindu Mandir is open from 8am till 2am ... and whether you are a devotee, participant, volunteer or observer, you are bound to experience higher vibrational energies just being present ॐ