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In Hinduism, there are three main ways to liberation. These three paths could also be otherwise identified as Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Karma Yoga. Many teachers, including Ramakrishna, identify a fourth main path as Raja Yoga, differentiating between the pursuit of knowledge (Jnana Yoga) and the psychophysical techniques aimed at subduing the mind and experiencing the super-conscious state (Raja Yoga). These methods include body postures, breath control and concentration or contemplation: all aimed at the ultimate goal of achieving samadhi. Following one or all of these paths can finally deliver a person from samsara (the cycle of rebirths). Many Hindus would say that total liberation (moksha) comes when the soul achieves undifferentiated union with Brahman.
In contrast, the Sankhya Yoga School within Hinduism teaches that final liberation is not signified by an absolute, monistic oneness with Brahman: a perception of everything being in the Self and the Self in everything. Instead, it involves the freeing of the individual soul from the cycle of rebirth, yet simultaneously, an isolation from all other Selves within the sphere of its own personal, omnipresent, omniscient, divine, eternal existence. In this viewpoint, absorption into Brahman does not mean the absolute loss of individuality. There are three paths for liberation in Hinduism, which are also called tree marga's. Hindus disagree about the way (marga) to final emancipation (moksha). Three paths to liberation (variously valued but nonexclusive) are presented in an extremely influential religious text, the Bhagavad-Gita (Song of the Lord; c. 200 BC), according to which it is not acts themselves but the desire for their results that produces karma and thus attachment.
The first way to salvation is the karma-marga "the path of duties", the disinterested discharge of ritual and social obligations. The second is the jnana-marga "the path of knowledge", the use of meditative concentration preceded by a long and systematic ethical and contemplative training, yoga, to gain a supra-intellectual insight into one's identity with Brahman. Moreover, the third one is the bhakti-marga "the path of devotion", the devotion to a personal God. These ways are regarded as suited to various types of people. Although the search for moksha has never been the goal of more than a small minority of Hindus, liberation was a religious ideal that affected all lives. Moksha determined not only the hierarchical values of Indian social institutions and religious doctrines and practices but also the function of Indian philosophy, which is to discuss what one must do to find true fulfillment and what one has to realize, by direct experience, in order to escape from samsara and obtain spiritual freedom.
While those who have not been reached by formal Indian philosophy have only vague ideas about the doctrines of karma and moksha, in semi popular milieus these doctrines gave rise to much speculation. For the ordinary Hindu, the main aim of worldly life lies in conforming to social and ritual duties, to the traditional rules of conduct for one's caste, family, and profession. Such requirements constitute an individual's dharma (law and duties), one's own part of the broader stability, law, order, and fundamental equilibrium in the cosmos, nature, and society. Santana (traditional) dharma -- a term used by Hindus to denote their own religions a close approximation to "religious practices" in the West.
Thus, religion for Hindus is mainly a tradition and a heritage, a way of life and a mode of thought. In practice, it is the right application of methods for securing both welfare in this life and a good condition in the hereafter. This approach leads to understand liberation as the process of improving own soul. Hinduism as a religion only gives directions how it is possible to achieve liberation. The rest depends on a believer. In conclusion, for Hindu the final and the concept of vital importance of being is liberation from the wheel of birth, death, and rebirth.
One can only get off the reincarnation merry-go-round by realizing that the idea of the arrogant and individual self is an illusion, and only the oneness of Brahman is real, which means that nothing in this world really matters. Hindu believes that there is no heaven; therefore, universal oneness would be only to lose own identity. Now let us look on Islam and its main concepts, including the concept of liberation. There are three main types of Muslims. The mainstream traditionalists are the Sunni Muslims, who form approximately 90 % of all Muslim believers. Therefore, since it is a major Muslim stream it will be appropriate do view their concepts in the reference to general concepts of Islam.
Muslims believe in Muhammad, who was the prophet of Allah. Muhammad was visited by angel Jibreel and was given the duty to covert the population of his country from their pagan beliefs. Muslims use two main texts: Koran and Hadith. In Koran, the words of god are written and in Hadith are the Muhammad's words. Muslims have five duties, which are also called as Five Pillars of Islam. The first duty is to perform the shahada h at least one time in a life.
The second one is to perform a prayer five times a day. It is called salah. The third duty is to donate 2. 5 % charity tax, which will go to poor. It is called zakat. The forth one is to fast during the month of Ramadan. Finally, the fifth one is to visit Mecca at least once in a lifetime, certainly if it is possible due to physical and financial ability.
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Research essay sample on Raja Yoga Three Main
