We discussed about the first three objectives of human-life: Dharma, Artha, and Kama. Life after life eternally human beings have been taking birth in this universe, and all of them have had the same purposes in life - in that order. Dharma is the right to equality or the establishment of the level playing field - the social framework within which we ought to pursue the remaining two objectives - acquisition of wealth and satisfaction of desires. It may be evident that the Artha and Kama are inter-related - one leads to the other - the person who has acquired wealth is able to satisfy most earthly desires - however, Kama could be out of this world as well - at that time only the shastras can help. For example, even the wealthiest individual on earth may not be assured of a place in heaven after death. However, he/she could have a desire to visit the heaven and spend some time there. Please note that no one can aspire to live permanently in the heaven as it is nothing but a paradise which Jeevatmas visit for sometime. After their time runs out, they are pushed down from there with their heads pointing down, back to earth to restart another life!
Now, the desire to visit and spend some time in heaven is a wish that cannot be purchased by "material wealth". Normally, one acquires that by performing good karma during one's life time. There is also another way. There is a yagna called "Jyotishyoma". One who performs that yagna is assured of visiting the heaven at the end of that life term. Please note that, performance of that yagna does not mean the person will die right away and be transported to heaven. Each Jeevatma experiences heaven or one or more of the various hells (naraka) normally based on their karma. However, if one has performed extremely bad karma and then performs the Jyotishyoma yagna, at the end of that life that Jeevatma is assured of visiting heaven for a certain duration.
Dharma, Artha, and Kama are temporary in nature. Jeevatmas that have achieved these three pursuits still have to take birth again and again in this "samsara" until they become eligible for Moksha. Moksha is therefore the fourth and final pursuit in life. It may be noted that those who aspire for Moksha seldom care for dharma, artha, and kama during that life-time.
Moksha
There are two types of Moksha - Atma Anubhava and Bhagavad Anubhava. In both the types of Moksha the experiences are different - however any Jeevatma that has achieved moksha will never take birth in Leela-Vibhuti owing to "karma". Let us see what this means in the next post.
Now, the desire to visit and spend some time in heaven is a wish that cannot be purchased by "material wealth". Normally, one acquires that by performing good karma during one's life time. There is also another way. There is a yagna called "Jyotishyoma". One who performs that yagna is assured of visiting the heaven at the end of that life term. Please note that, performance of that yagna does not mean the person will die right away and be transported to heaven. Each Jeevatma experiences heaven or one or more of the various hells (naraka) normally based on their karma. However, if one has performed extremely bad karma and then performs the Jyotishyoma yagna, at the end of that life that Jeevatma is assured of visiting heaven for a certain duration.
Dharma, Artha, and Kama are temporary in nature. Jeevatmas that have achieved these three pursuits still have to take birth again and again in this "samsara" until they become eligible for Moksha. Moksha is therefore the fourth and final pursuit in life. It may be noted that those who aspire for Moksha seldom care for dharma, artha, and kama during that life-time.
Moksha
There are two types of Moksha - Atma Anubhava and Bhagavad Anubhava. In both the types of Moksha the experiences are different - however any Jeevatma that has achieved moksha will never take birth in Leela-Vibhuti owing to "karma". Let us see what this means in the next post.
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