Liberation

In his "Perennial Philosophy", Aldous Huxley defines liberation as "the process of waking up out of the nonsense, nightmares and illusory pleasures of what is ordinarily called real life into the awareness of eternity". He equates such an experience with [enlightenment]

, [deliverance]

, [felicity]

and [beatitude]

. Virtually all spiritual paths have such liberation as their goal, which is said to be realized when the identity of the individual with the universal spirit is perceived. There are and have been many methods of approach - physical austerity and the mortification of the flesh; renouncing preoccupation with the individual self through intellectual mortification; right action; spiritual simplicity. However, one is warned against the illusions of idolatry and superstition - although rites and rituals are said to have their place on the path to liberation.

Different religions and spiritual movements posit different causes for the requirement of salvation. Thus many Indian systems blame [avidya]

(ignorance), while the Christian system has the doctrine of original sin. However, individual personal salvation in isolation is not seen as sufficient or even possible. Since human beings are interrelated and interdependent, true liberation requires the collective salvation of all mankind. Both Christianity and Buddhism affirm that their founders rejected personal salvation in order to liberate humanity. This is mirrored in the need for guidance on the path to salvation, whether from guru, shaman or priest for the individual's day to day development; and on some great spiritual leader both for knowledge of the way and for intercession with God.