The concept of the Jivanmukta — a realised soul who lives in this earth — is a unique one, almost an oxymoron since it brings together two words or ideas with contrary or opposite meanings.
A Jivanmukta is a realised soul even while living on this earth. How can such a person of this world also revel in the experience of the Supreme Brahman, which is the prerogative of a liberated soul? Is not the body-mind-complex syndrome that binds one to the material world a tangible deterrent to such a state of mind?
Beginning from the analysis of the life of an ordinary individual, Lord Krishna's brilliant exposition of the state of enlightenment in a realised soul provides the answers to such doubts, said Sri N. Veezhinathan in a lecture.
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The Lord's first lesson explains the nature of the body-mind-complex syndrome as something that is born, lives and grows old and dies, while the Atma's subtle nature, which is the cause of life in it, is eternal.
Though no one knows how the immortal soul got itself associated with the body and for how long it has been in search of salvation, the Lord makes it clear that Karma follows each individual and also reveals the path of renunciation by which this bondage of Karma can be transcended. During one's lifetime, none can give up action altogether.
The mind, body, senses, effort and the Atma perform acts as a team. All acts are motivated by the sense of ego and desire and also lead to consequences that may be good, bad, or a mixture of both. The only way to escape the consequences of the acts is to adopt a detached attitude while one performs the acts.
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This means one has to give up the sense of ownership (ego) as well as the fruits of actions. Renunciation means giving up not action but the fruits of action, says the Lord. Because of Avidya (ignorance) and lack of proper understanding, an individual gets confused about the agency of the action. An uncultivated mind sees things in the wrong light and does not realise the truth. His possessive attitude to the work makes it difficult for him to renounce the Karma and its fruits. But the realised soul is not possessive with the body and the senses and remains detached.