What Is the Nature of and the Conditions for Attaining Salvation/Liberation/Enlightenment?
Traditionally in Hinduism there are three ways to attain liberation. (1) The way of right action (karma marga) involves living in accordance with one’s duty as determined by gender, caste, and stage in life. (2) The way of liberating knowledge (jnana marga) is advocated by Advaita Vedanta, which teaches that what breaks the cycle of rebirths is the existential realization of one’s own essential identity with Brahman. (3) The way of devotion (bhakti marga) involves love, reverence, or adoration for a particular deity, and performing ritual worship of deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, or Krishna. Different schools of Buddhism have slightly different teachings, but most Theravada traditions emphasize strict adherence to the Noble Eightfold Path, which includes proper understanding of the nature of reality including the Buddha’s teaching on the impermanence of all things and rigorous meditation. Mahayana traditions tend to emphasize seeking enlightenment in this life through meditation. Thera
