Host:
Dear friends, I wish you all a happy Bijoya and offer my respects. We are beginning today's episode by paying our respects to the Mother and Father at Shantikunj. Welcome to those who are new to the Gupto Sadhak Shamakhyapa YouTube channel, and thank you to our long-time friends for staying with us. Pronam (Respects), Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam, Baba, Pronam.
Host:
Gurudev, we know that the primary reason we cannot progress toward spirituality is our ego and selfishness. Because of this, we can never attain Moksha (liberation). Today, we want to hear about Moksha from you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
You are right. Moksha cannot be attained easily. If someone says, "I will achieve Moksha on my own," they are talking nonsense. One cannot attain Moksha by themselves; they must take help from others. If I want to grant Moksha to someone, I can. But if I need Moksha myself, I have to seek help from someone else. It doesn't happen on its own.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We perform rituals and worship to achieve the Chaturvarga (the four goals of life). These are Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. God doesn't just hand these to you; you have to earn them. It's not like God will come down and give you a bag of money. The same applies to Moksha. You have to control these four goals yourself; no one else can do it for you.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Dharma means that which you uphold—it is your religious and moral duty. Artha refers to the wealth you have or the money you earn through your career or education. Moksha is something you earn through others. And then there is Kama (desire), which is a powerful thing.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
These are connected to the Shada-ripu (the six internal enemies). These six enemies and the five senses are very difficult for a person to control. The six enemies are: Lust (Kama), Anger (Krodha), Greed (Lobha), Attachment (Moha), Pride (Mada), and Envy (Matsarya). The five elements are: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. These things bother us constantly. We can't really control them; we just pass our time reacting to them.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If you cannot control your body and these elements, you cannot progress. But if you can purify your body and turn it into a Shashan (a cremation ground, symbolizing detachment), then the Mother—Durga, Kali, or Tara—or Lord Shiva will reside there. They don't like staying in a place filled with "garbage" (vices). You must free yourself from these to make your body a temple for the Divine.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The cremation grounds you see in the physical world are where dead bodies are burned. That is different. If you can rid your body of the four goals and the six enemies, you are on the right path. Ramprasad (the saint-poet) once said that he couldn't handle the six enemies within his body and wished he could destroy them with poison. So, if even someone like him struggled, you can see that it's almost impossible to control them fully. They are always gripping the human mind.
Host:
Gurudev, Swami Vivekananda once said, "If you want liberation for yourself, arrange for the liberation of others."
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Exactly! That's what I told you. Arrange for others' liberation, and you will receive your own.
Host:
So, by "liberation of others," you mean serving others? Serving the poor, the sick, and the needy?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, absolutely. Vivekananda used to visit a widow whom he called "Saptachurni Maa." He advised her to serve people. Service is the highest religion. There is nothing above service. So, don't just hope for Moksha; give it to others, and someone will eventually give it to you.
Host:
You mentioned that Moksha is impossible for an ordinary person to achieve alone.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
If I say otherwise, then the Gita would be proven false. The world may be an illusion, but the Gita is the truth. You have to return to this world again and again; you won't get Moksha easily. This is the truth of the Gita. I believe that after death, the soul is reborn in another body. This cycle continues.
Host:
We often hear people claim, "I have attained Moksha," or "He has attained Moksha." But from what you're saying, it's not that simple.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It's not simple at all. Only a great saint or a guru can grant you Moksha. No matter how big a practitioner or tantric you think you are, you cannot take it for yourself. Someone else has to give it to you.
Host:
How does "someone else" give it?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
A great monk or a realized soul who knows you can grant it. They understand who is seeking liberation and who isn't. We also see many wandering souls—those who died by suicide or accidents—who come to us seeking liberation. They believe that if we touch them or intervene, they will find peace. We then perform certain rituals to help them move on.
Host:
Is this "liberation" after death or before?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
It can happen while living too. People come to me asking to be freed from their suffering. For example, recently, a cancer patient was struggling and couldn't pass away. Their family was devastated and came to me. I provided "holy water" (sanctified water) and told them that once they used it, the patient would find peace. We call this a type of Chantrayan. It grants relief to the family and the suffering person.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
There is a big difference between Mukti (freedom/salvation) and Moksha (ultimate liberation from the cycle of birth). Moksha is much higher than Mukti.
Host:
Today, we were discussing Moksha. Who actually attains it?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Those who have absolute faith in God and nothing else usually receive Moksha. But as I said, it is granted by someone else. Even I wish to attain Moksha, but it isn't easy. Mukti is possible, but Moksha is a much higher state.
Host:
Friends, today we heard Gurudev explain the beautiful distinction between Mukti and Moksha. Our topic was Moksha, but Gurudev brought in the concept of Mukti so we could understand the difference. Gurudev, we truly enjoyed today's discussion. I hope our viewers did too. Pronam, Gurudev.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Pronam, Baba. Pronam.