Real liberation comes from transcending divisions and recognising our spiritual identity, a path that leads to peace, harmony, and tranquility

More than seven decades after we attained independence from the British, we are still enslaved- trapped in the bondage of caste, creed, religion, regionalism etal. This has created deep fissures in society, destroying the democratic fabric of amity, harmony and peaceful co-existence. All this is there because as individuals, society and a nation, we have not attained real or to say ultimate freedom that promotes peace, harmony and happiness. 

What is real or ultimate freedom? It is a state of not being enslaved to physical senses, to mind and its desires. It means breaking free from toxic thoughts and the vices associated with it.  We need freedom from prejudices of caste, creed and religion, greed and selfishness, anger and animosity, hate and hostility. 

But then why are we failing to achieve real freedom and how can we attain it? Real freedom is eluding us because we are facing an identity crisis. We don't know our real identity.   In reality, we are spiritual beings (having soul-based identity) in body form. But we make a fallacy of treating ourselves as a body and this unreal world as the real world.

The basic nature of our material existence is bondage and when we act upon the material desires of the mind and senses, we often take to unwise and unholy acts which lead to our sorrows and sufferings. Because of duality, we tend to discriminate against fellow beings and this discrimination takes the form of hatred, animosity and hostility, even leading to violence and bloodshed.  Liberation of the soul or spiritual freedom is the ultimate freedom.

The devotees belonging to the Nirankari Mission observe the 15th of August as 'Mukti Parv Diwas'  to signify the liberation of the soul.  To attain this ultimate liberation, we have to come out of the contaminated state of our consciousness and position ourselves in a pure state of our consciousness. Even Bhagavad Gita says that being situated in such a position, one is never shaken even amid the greatest difficulty and it is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact. 

We can certainly attain ultimate liberation through self-liberation by way of self realization that we are a pure and noble soul- a constituent of God. We can lead such an aware life constantly by strengthening our spiritual dimension through God's remembrance and the company of saintly persons. Lord Jesus set people free from bondage to live in the freedom that only comes from God. 

We shall be able to attain real freedom by living an enlightened life in the spirit of oneness (Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam)  with the Creator and His creation, in turn turning this world into a happy, harmonious and peaceful place to live.

(The writer is a senior journalist; views expressed are personal)