True Meaning of Becoming Liberated
The desire to be free is fundamental to the human spirit. While many seek freedom from political or social oppression, the Vedic scriptures speak of a much higher liberty: freedom from the cycle of birth and death. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that becoming liberated is not a theoretical state of voidism or inactivity, but a dynamic awakening of one's original consciousness. It is the transition from identifying with the temporary body to identifying as an eternal servant of the Supreme Lord.
Understanding Kṛṣṇa
The most direct method of attaining liberation is knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites the Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), which states that anyone who truly understands the transcendental nature of Kṛṣṇa’s appearance and activities is immediately liberated. This is not a matter of mental speculation but of factual realization that the Lord and His pastimes are divine.
- If you actually understand Krsna, you are liberated immediately. Janma karma ca divyam me yo janati tattvatah (BG 4.9). How Krsna eats, how Krsna thinks, how Krsna works, if you understand all these things, then immediately you become liberated.
- Anyone who can understand critically and in truth about the appearance, disappearance, activities, transcendental activities, pastimes, of the Supreme Lord, Krsna, at once he becomes liberated.
- Simply by knowing Krsna, one becomes immediately liberated and goes back to Krsna, simply by knowing Krsna. Janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvatah.
Process for Kali-yuga
In previous ages, becoming liberated required severe austerities, deep meditation, or elaborate sacrifices. However, in the current Age of Kali, these methods are impractical. The scriptures offer a special benediction: kīrtanād eva kṛṣṇasya mukta-saṅgaḥ paraṁ vrajet. Simply by chanting the holy name of Kṛṣṇa, one becomes free from material contamination. This process is so potent that it purifies the chanter regardless of their background or birth.
- The faulty kali-yuga is just like an ocean of miserable condition, but there is one great opportunity. What is that? Simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Krsna one becomes liberated, and he is elevated to the highest perfection of life.
- Anyone who chants the holy name of the Lord becomes immediately freed from conditional life and that anyone who hears the holy name of the Lord, even though born of a family of dog-eaters, also becomes liberated from the clutches of material entanglement.
- There is very nice process in the Kali-yuga. In the midst of so many difficulties of this age, there is one boon, and that boon is one can become liberated from this material entanglement altogether simply by chanting this Hare Krsna.
Active vs. False Liberation
There is a misconception that liberation implies becoming inactive or merging into a void. Śrīla Prabhupāda refutes this "Māyāvādī" theory, explaining that the soul is eternally active. Those who claim to be liberated without engaging in the service of the Lord have "impure intelligence" (aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ). True liberation means engaging the senses in the service of the Master of the senses (Hṛṣīkeśa).
- The Mayavadi philosophers, they say that so long we are contaminated in the maya, we can adopt any means of self-realization, and after self-realization, when we become liberated, we become one with the Supreme and there is no more any work.
- The real source of activity is coming from the soul. So how it is that after one becomes liberated, he becomes inactive? That is the theory of the Mayavadi. Real activity begins there.
- Our original constitutional position is that we are eternal servant of Krsna. So as soon as we employ ourself in the service of the Lord, immediately we become liberated.
Conclusion
To become liberated is not to become God, but to become a pure devotee of God. The illusion of the material world is the false thought "I am the enjoyer." When this is replaced by the truth "Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer," the soul is instantly freed from the bondage of karma. As Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes, one who engages in unalloyed devotional service is already liberated, even while residing within this material body, for they have transcended the modes of nature and are situated in the spiritual reality.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Becoming Liberated. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.