16 May 2014 - QA 8

Gurudev, what is liberation? Is it attained only after one’s death, or can a person be liberated while he is living? Can you please elaborate on this?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

You can be liberated right now, this very moment.
For example, today the general elections have come to an end in the country. Just ask the Chief Election Commissioner of the country as to how he is feeling (referring to the feeling of total relief). That is what liberation is. Now he can comfortably go on a holiday for the next six months.

And just ask those who have lost this election and whose government failed to get re-elected for a new term. They too are very relaxed and happy because they have been freed from all the responsibilities. Now they can go on a holiday to any country in the world for as many days as they may feel like.
They anyway do not attend the Parliament sessions regularly. In a span of five years, they would have barely shown up for around 100 days or so.

Liberation means, that you have finally found rest (and this happens when you are finally free from all your desires and cravings).
When the feeling dawns from deep within, 'I am content, I do not want anything', and you have fulfilled all your duties and responsibilities, then you are liberated.

Liberation is freedom from desires; liberation is the total contentment that you get when you fulfill all that you had to.
Liberation is soaking oneself completely in devotion to the Divine. When this realization dawns on you, 'I am not the body, I am the eternal spirit. This body will perish but I will remain here forever', then that is liberation.