Moksha and the Hindu Worldview

Abstract

The Hindu worldview presents artha, kama, dharma and moksha as the four major goals of human life. While artha and kama represent physical and psychological goals, dharma and moksha represent moral and spiritual goals, respectively. This article examines the relevance of the concept of moksha in the life of Indians and its potential for addressing the problem of individual and group relationships. It describes the way in which the concept of moksha and other similar concepts are discussed in traditional Hindu scriptures and other religious traditions. Finally, it tries to capture the way in which moksha is defined and understood by people at the present time. The article also examines some of the widely held misconceptions and dilemmas associated with moksha. It is argued that instead of being an ‘otherworldly’ reality, moksha is concerned with the present world, that it incorporates everything related to human life, and that the pursuit of this goal is helpful not only in achieving success in personal and professional domains of life, but also in developing positive interpersonal and inter-group relationships. Problems associated with transmission of moksha as a valued goal in the present-day society are discussed.