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Acquiesce to Righteousness

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liberated from sin and its consequences, but from the saṃsāra (cycle of rebirth)<br />

perpetuated by passions and delusions and its resulting karma. They differ however on<br />

the exact nature of this liberation. Salvation is called moksha or mukti which mean<br />

liberation and release respectively. This state and the conditions considered necessary<br />

for its realization is described in early texts of Indian religion such as the Upanishads<br />

and the Pāli Canon, and later texts such the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Vedanta<br />

tradition. Moksha can be attained by sādhanā, literally "means of accomplishing<br />

something". It includes a variety of disciplines, such as yoga and meditation.<br />

Nirvana is the profound peace of mind that is acquired with moksha (liberation). In<br />

Buddhism and Jainism, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it<br />

is union with the Brahman (Supreme Being). The word literally means "blown out" (as in<br />

a candle) and refers, in the Buddhist context, <strong>to</strong> the blowing out of the fires of desire,<br />

aversion, and delusion, and the imperturbable stillness of mind acquired thereafter.<br />

In Theravada Buddhism the emphasis is on one's own liberation from samsara. The<br />

Mahayana traditions emphasize the bodhisattva path, in which "each Buddha and<br />

Bodhisattva is a redeemer", assisting the Buddhist in seeking <strong>to</strong> achieve the redemptive<br />

state. The assistance rendered is a form of self-sacrifice on the part of the teachers,<br />

who would presumably be able <strong>to</strong> achieve <strong>to</strong>tal detachment from worldly concerns, but<br />

have instead chosen <strong>to</strong> remain engaged in the material world <strong>to</strong> the degree that this is<br />

necessary <strong>to</strong> assist others in achieving such detachment.<br />

Jainism<br />

In Jainism, salvation, moksa and nirvana are one and the same. When a soul (atman)<br />

achieves moksa, it is released from the cycle of births and deaths, and achieves its pure<br />

self. It then becomes a siddha (literally means one who has accomplished his ultimate<br />

objective). Attaining Moksa requires annihilation of all karmas, good and bad, because if<br />

karma is left, it must bear fruit.<br />

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