Do we attain Moksha only after death? Can we attain moksha while being alive?

Question

I know that moksha means liberation from cycles of birth and death, but what does it really mean?
How do we know if we have achieved moksha?

Answer 1

Moksha is merging of our individual ego into the supreme consciousness.... we may retain feeble self or chose not to.

And yes this can be achieved in life time... hinduism does not promise anthing after u die.

There were many who attained this state while alive... Jesus, Buddha, Paramhansa, shankracharya, Raman maharishi, aurobindo.... list is unending.

Answer 2

I too believe that Moksha means liberation from the cycle of birth and death again and again . In other words ,after the death, the soul mingles with the great soul, that is God.It will not btake birth again as any creature.I think that the great personalities like Jesus, Buddha, Raman Maharshi etc achieved should be understood as self realization. It was in their life time that they had direct communication with God..There was no question of rebirth as they were still alive.Liberation from the cycle of rebirth can come after death only.

Answer 3

Broadly we can categorized the Moksha in two -

1. When one has realized the Truth and one is still living in the physical body to exhaust her/his karma (bhoga). They are known as JivanMukta.

2. When enlightened one has left his body, and merged in the Ishwar (God).

In simple words, in bondage one identifies with matter. In Liberation, one identifies with Soul, which is reflection of Ishwar (God). In later case matter-system folds back in it causal state and consciousness-system unfolds itself.

Answer 4

whilst living,you will know when you are self realized