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THE DOCTRINE OF LIBERATION IN INDIAN RELIGIONS
limitations and can only be known when one enters into it. Since the highest reality is inconceivable, all descriptions of nirvana are partial descriptions. Even Lord Buddha cannot describe completely whatever He sees' and 'knows'. No one can formulate an accurate idea of what nirvāṇa is. It is unthinkable and incomprehensible.
According to Jainism liberation is the freedom of the self from all karmas; it is full of unthinkable attributes. The liberated self realizes eternal bliss, infinite knowledge, and power; its perfection cannot be described. It is that state where mind and speech cannot reach. The Sikh teachers have also stressed the indescribability and incomprehensibility of mukti or liberation.
THE IDEAL OF MUKTI AGAINST THE FORCES OF SCIENTIFIC SPIRIT, SCEPTICISM, MATERIALISM AND INTELLECTUALISM
The fundamental ideal which runs through all the systems of Indian religions is opposed to materialist thought and natural sciences. Its mystical nature is opposed to purely scientific spirit. The sceptics and materialists may not find this ideal acceptable.
For a modern man it is difficult to accept the existence of such type of mystic reality because of his changed outlook. With the advancement of science modern man has changed his outlook from idealism to scepticism and he is heading towards materialism and intellectualism.
There is no doubt that modern man has achieved great prosperity through scientific advancement and his materialistic attitude towards life has been strengthened. The question still remains that although science has made all this tremendous progress but it has not emancipated man from sufferings, worries and troubles. Science can give us physical comfort but it cannot give us satisfaction, inner peace and tranquillity. Our material achievements, our control of physical forces, our intellectual inquiries, have not added to the peace of mind. Instead of removing sufferings, scientific achievements have snatched away from us the calm of mind and peaceful nature of our soul. As long as we are with these forces, we cannot hear the "still, small voice within us." Equipped with scientific knowledge, modern man is going away from the world of spiritual truth, beauty and goodness. THE PERSISTENCE OF ANCIENT TRADITIONS OF ASCETIC IDEAL AND REALIZATION OF SELF.
It is the declared view of all our ancient Indian traditions that
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