Chapter 10: The Human Goal: Moksha - Story of Kotikarna

Bhikshu Kotikarna mentioned that Moksha is to understand your true nature. (अपने असली स्वरूप को पहचानना ही मोक्ष है।). However, for a majority of us the question would remain as beautifully asked by the student in Vivekachoodamani:

भ्रमेणाप्यन्यथा वाऽस्तु जीवभावः परात्मनः
तदुपाधेरनादित्वान्नानादेनार्श इष्यते॥
अतोस्य जीवभावोऽपि नित्या भवति संसृतिः
न निवर्तेत तन्मोक्षः कथं मे श्रीगुरो वद॥ [- १९२ & १९३]

bhrameṇāpyanyathā vā'stu jīvabhāvaḥ parātmanaḥ
tadupādheranāditvānnānādenārśa iṣyate.
atosya jīvabhāvo'pi nityā bhavati saṁsṛtiḥ
na nivarteta tanmokṣaḥ kathaṁ me śrīguro vada. [192 & 193]

That the Supreme Self has come to consider itself as the jiva, through delusion or otherwise, is a superimposition which is beginning less. That which is beginning less cannot be said to have an end ! So the jiva-hood of the Self must also be without an end, ever subject to transmigration. Please tell me, O revered Teacher, how then can there be 'moksha' (liberation) for the Self?

The Guru responds with detailed explanations to provide complete clarity to the student. In the following shloka of Vivekachoodamani, the Guru tells the student the unfailing path to liberation:

असन्निवृतौ तु सदात्मन स्फुटं प्रतीतिरेतस्य भवेत्प्रतीचः।
ततो निरासः करणीय एवा सदात्मनः साध्वहमादिवस्तुनः॥ [- २०५]
asannivṛtau tu sadātmana sphuṭaṁ pratītiretasya bhavetpratīcaḥ,
tato nirāsaḥ karaṇīya evā sadātmanaḥ sādhvahamādivastunaḥ. [ - 205]

This very individual Self is clearly realised as the Eternal Self when the unreal ceases to exist. So one must strive to completely remove the ego etc. from the Eternal Self.

'Give up the ego' seems to be the loud and clear message.