Mumukshutva - Intense Longing for Liberation

Mumukshutva - the intense longing for liberation - is beautiful because it's both the fuel for the spiritual journey and a practice you can cultivate. 

 

It is a Sanskrit term that means “intense desire for liberation” (moksha). It is one of the four essential qualifications (Sadhana Chatushtaya) for a spiritual seeker, especially in Advaita Vedanta. Mumukshutva is the deep, burning aspiration to be free from the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and attain self-realization — the direct experience of one’s true nature as Brahman (pure consciousness).

“Mokṣo me bhūyat iti icchā mumukṣutvam.”
– The desire: “Let me attain liberation” is mumukshutva.

 

Here's how to develop and deepen it:

 

Understanding What You're Longing For

First, get clear on what liberation actually means to you. It's not escaping life, but recognizing your true nature - the peace, freedom, and wholeness that's already here beneath all the mental noise and identity-seeking.

"Neti, Neti" (Not this, Not this): 

You are not your body, thoughts, emotions, or roles. 

You are the awareness that observes all these.

Start each day asking: 

Who is the one who is thinking these thoughts? 

Who is aware of these feelings? 

You're the observer, not the observed.

 

Daily Practices to Cultivate Mumukshutva

Morning Intention Setting:

• Upon waking, before checking your phone or getting busy, ask: "What do I really want today?" Let yourself feel the deeper longing beneath surface desires.
• Set an intention: "May I recognize my true nature today."
   
   

Evening Reflection:

• Before sleep, contemplate: "What brought me closest to peace today? What pulled me away from it?"
• Notice how pursuing temporary pleasures or avoiding discomfort creates suffering.
  

  Mantralayam, North Karnataka 

"Enough!" Moments:

• When you catch yourself in repetitive mental patterns, drama, or seeking validation, pause and say internally: "Enough of this! I want to be free."
• Use frustration with mental suffering as fuel for spiritual aspiration.
   
   

Deepening the Longing

Study Stories of Liberation:

• Read about sages who found freedom. Let their peace inspire your own longing.
• Notice how they describe the relief of no longer being trapped by thoughts and identities.
   
   

Contemplate Impermanence:

• Observe how everything changes - thoughts, feelings, circumstances, relationships.
• Ask: "What in me doesn't change? What remains constant through all experience?"

Feel the Cost of Unconsciousness:

• Notice how much energy you spend on worry, comparison, seeking approval, or defending positions.
• Let the exhaustion of this fuel your desire for the simplicity of just being.
   
   

The key is making liberation feel more compelling than the familiar patterns of seeking happiness in temporary things. When that longing becomes stronger than your attachment to the drama of the separate self, you're naturally drawn into deeper practice.

Shiva Dhyana Mantra

Shiva Dhyana Mantra

 Gogarbha Shiva Cave

The "Karacharana Krtam Vaa" shloka is a prayer of repentance and surrender to Lord Shiva. It is traditionally recited at the end of Shiva worship or meditation to seek forgiveness for any known or unknown mistakes. 

Shri Mahabaleshwar Atmalinga, Gokarna 

|| Karacharana Kritam Vaa Kaayajam Karmajam Vaa

 Shravana Nayanjam Vaa Maanasam Vaaparadham

Vihitam Avihitam Vaa Sarva Me Tat Kshamasva

Jaya Jaya Karunaabdhe Shree Mahadeva Shambho ||

करचरण कृतं वाऽकायजं कर्मजं वा
श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसं वाऽपराधम्।
विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्क्षमस्व
जय जय करुणाब्धे श्रीमहादेव शम्भो॥ 

 Atmalinga

 

Atmalinga 

Meaning:

“O compassionate ocean of mercy, Mahadeva Shambhu!

Whatever sins I have committed — 

through my hands and feet, body and actions, ears and eyes, or mind — 

knowingly or unknowingly, rightfully or wrongfully — please forgive them all.

Victory to You, O Lord of compassion!” 

 

Mahadev Khola Dham, Shillong, Meghalaya 

I seek your blessings, Lord Shiva, 

May I be forgiven for the sins of my hands, feet, speech, actions, ears, eyes, or mind.

May my body, mind, and spirit be cleansed, 

O merciful Lord Shiva.

 

Shri Murdeshwar Atmalinga, Karnataka 

 

For a more thorough explanation of the mantra, look below:

Karacharana Kritam Vaa : Whatever Sins have been Committed by Actions Performed by my Hands and Feet

Kaayajam Karmajam Vaa : Produced by my Speech and Body, Or my Works

Shravana Nayanjam Vaa : Produced by my Ears and Eyes

Maanasam Vaaparadham : Sins Committed by my Mind

Vihitam Avihitam Vaa : While performing actions that are Prescribed (i.e. duties prescribed by tradition or allotted duties in one's station of life), as well as all other actions that are not explicitly prescribed (i.e. actions done by self-judgment, by mere habit, without much thinking, unknowingly etc.)

Sarva Me Tat Kshamasva : Please Forgive Them All

Jaya Jaya Karunaabdhe : Victory, Victory to You Ocean of Compassion.

Shree Mahadeva Shambho : O Sri Mahadeva Shambho

 

 

Surathkal Atmalinga, Karnataka 

 

A heartfelt surrender seeking total forgiveness for all conscious and unconscious wrongs, placing complete trust in Lord Shiva's boundless compassion. 

Moksha/Liberation through Mindfulness and Self-observation

Attaining Moksha (liberation) through mindfulness and self-observation is a practical and deeply transformative path. It aligns closely with Raja Yoga, Buddhist vipassana, and certain schools of Advaita Vedanta, and is especially suitable for householders and meditators in the modern world.

                                                         Karkala Gomateshwara, Karnataka

Here’s a clear breakdown of how mindfulness (smṛti/sati) and self-observation (atma-vichara) can lead to Moksha:

Path to Moksha Through Mindfulness & Self-Observation

1. Understand What You Are Not (Self-Observation Begins)

• Observe the body, emotions, and thoughts as not-self.

• Realize: “This body changes. These thoughts come and go. I am the one witnessing them.”

• This helps disidentify from ego and form.

“You are not the body. You are not the mind. You are the witness of both.” – Nisargadatta Maharaj

Salugara Monastery, North Bengal
 

2. Cultivate Constant Mindfulness (Present Moment Awareness)

• Be aware of:

  • Bodily sensations

  • Breathing

  • Emotions

  • Reactions

  • Thought patterns

• Remain as a neutral observer without judgment.

• This gradually dissolves mental conditioning and egoic identification.

“Mindfulness is the path to the deathless (Nirvana).” – Buddha

 

Ghoom Monastery (Samten Choeling), Darjeeling

 

Brahmaputra river, Guwahati 

3. Watch the Mind Without Controlling It

• Let thoughts arise and pass.

• Don’t react. Just observe.

• You begin to see that you are not the thinker, but the awareness in which thoughts arise.

“Let thoughts come and go. Just be the silent witness.” – Ramana Maharshi

 

Sowparnika River, Karnataka 

4. Discover the Gap (Pure Awareness)

• As mindfulness deepens, you begin to experience stillness between thoughts.

• This space is pure consciousness—your real Self.

• Abide in this silence. This is the gateway to Moksha.

5. Dissolution of Ego

• Continuous observation weakens the false ‘I’ (ego).

• The sense of separateness dissolves.

• What remains is unconditioned, ever-free awareness—Brahman or Nirvana.

“Awareness watching awareness is the direct path to freedom.”

 

                                              Mawjymbuin Caves, Meghalaya

6. Liberation Here and Now (Jivanmukti)

• Moksha is not going somewhere.

• It is awakening to your ever-present nature—free from craving, fear, and bondage.

• You become a Jivanmukta: liberated while living.

Daily Practices to Cultivate This Path

• Morning Silence: 10–30 mins of sitting in awareness.

• Mindful Breathing: Watch the breath throughout the day.

• Self-inquiry: Gently ask “Who am I?” when disturbed.

• Non-Reactivity: Watch anger, desire, and fear like clouds passing.

• Retreats: Attend vipassana or Advaita-style silent retreats.

Summary

Practice	Outcome
Self-observation	Disidentification from mind-body
Mindfulness	Living in the now, dissolving karma
Silence and Inquiry	Realization of the true Self
Abidance in Awareness	Liberation (Moksha)

“Moksha is not an attainment. It is the recognition of what you have always been — pure, silent, ever-free consciousness.”

Namaste Astu Bhagavan

Om Namaste Astu Bhagavan 

Vishweshwaraya Mahadevaya

Triyambakaya Tripurantakaya 

Trikalanikaalaya Kalagnirudraya

Neelakanthaya Mrithyunjayaya

Sarveshwaraya Sadashivaya

Sriman Mahadevaya Namaha

Om Namaste : I bow to you

Astu Bhagavan : The Supreme God 

Vishweshwaraya : He who is the Lord of the Universe 

Mahadevaya : Greatest among the Gods 

Triyambakaya : Who has three eyes 

Tripurantakaya : The destroyer of three cities/worlds/(Tripuras) representing ego/negativity/ignorance

Trikalagnikaalaya: The one who is beyond and has the power to destroy the past, present, and future (Trikalas) 

Kalagnirudraya : The Rudra who with his fire, ends the cosmos (to recreate) 

 

Maragadha Lingam (Uthirakosamangai)

Neelakanthaya : The one with blue throat 

Mrityunjayaya : The conqueror of Death 

Sarveshwaraya : He who is Lord of all the beings 

Sadashivaya : Called with the name Lord Sada Shiva (The eternal one) 

Sriman Mahadevaya : The God of the Gods, Greatest among all 

Namaha : My salutations to you.

 

Gudimallam Parasurameswara Temple (Oldest shiva linga in the world)

Activate both sides of the brain

 

 

Right and Left Brain

Quotes that emphasize or metaphorically suggest the importance of using both sides of the brain—balancing logic and creativity, reason and emotion, or analysis and intuition:

1. "The left brain is the law; the right brain is the grace. Wisdom lives where they meet."
   — Unknown

2. "To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."
   — Joseph Chilton Pearce
   (Emphasizing right-brain creativity balanced with the left-brain fear of error)

3. "Use the left brain to think and the right brain to dream. Then let both work together to build something extraordinary."
   — Unknown

4. "The most successful people are those who can marry the strengths of both hemispheres: logic with empathy, data with insight."
   — Daniel Pink

5. "You need both sides of your brain: the left to engineer, the right to inspire."
   — Unknown

6. "Don’t just think outside the box. Understand the box, then reinvent it."
   — Unknown
   (Reflects both analytical and creative processes)
   

Engaging both sides of the brain—the left (logical, analytical) and the right (creative, intuitive)—helps improve memory, focus, creativity, and overall mental balance. 

Here are some simple daily methods to activate both hemispheres:

1. Use Your Non-Dominant Hand

• What to do: Brush your teeth, eat, or write with your non-dominant hand.

• Why: Forces both hemispheres to work together and strengthens neural connections.

2. Combine Art and Logic

• Examples:

  • Try mind mapping ideas (creative + structured).

  • Do color-coded planning (creative + organized thinking).

  • Play music with sheet reading (logical) and improvisation (creative).

3. Listen to Binaural Beats or Brainwave Music

• Use: Focus tracks that stimulate both sides of the brain.

• Helps with synchronizing brainwaves, often used in meditation or focus sessions.

4. Practice Cross-Lateral Movements

• Movements like: Touch your left knee with your right hand and vice versa.

• Used in brain gym exercises to integrate both hemispheres.

5. Journal or Reflect

• Left brain: Write logical thoughts, plans, to-do lists.

• Right brain: Add sketches, doodles, metaphors, or creative expressions.

6. Play Strategy + Creative Games

• Chess + Drawing, or Sudoku + Storytelling games.

• This combo activates both analytical and imaginative thinking.

7. Learn Something New

• Try activities that involve patterns, movement, and creativity:

  • Dancing (steps + rhythm)

  • Cooking (measuring + improvising)

  • Learning a new language (structure + tone)
    

A simple 15–20 minute daily routine to activate both sides of your brain—great for mornings or midday resets:

Daily Brain Balance Routine (20 minutes)

1. Cross-Lateral Movement Warm-Up (3 mins)

• Do these moves for 30–60 seconds each:

  • March in place while tapping opposite knee with your hand.

  • Arm circles in opposite directions.

  • Side stretches with cross-body reaches.

Why: Activates coordination between hemispheres, gets your blood flowing.

2. Mind Map or Creative Journal (5 mins)

• Take a topic (e.g., your day, a problem, or an idea).

  • Use a mind map with colors and doodles.

  • Or write a journal entry mixing logical thoughts and creative descriptions.

Left brain: Structure and planning
Right brain: Visuals and imagination

3. Binaural Beats or Focus Music (play in background throughout)

• Play music tuned for focus or relaxation (many free on YouTube or apps like Brain.fm).

• Optional: meditate for 1–2 minutes while breathing deeply.

4. Use Non-Dominant Hand Challenge (3 mins)

• Brush your teeth, drink water, or write your name with your non-dominant hand.

• Can also try drawing a simple object.

Why: Builds new pathways and makes your brain work in a new way.

5. Quick Brain Game (5–7 mins)

• Alternate between:

  • Sudoku, logic puzzle (left brain)

  • Doodle challenge or short story prompt (right brain)

Apps like Peak, Elevate, or just a notebook work great!

Optional Add-on (2–3 mins)

• Learn 1 new word or phrase in a new language

• Watch a quick creative video (e.g., animation, art, dance)

You are the entire ocean in a drop

“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.”

It reflects the idea that the whole is contained in the part — a drop of water contains the essence of the entire ocean. Spiritually, this suggests that every soul carries the divine — the vast universe is mirrored within each individual.

 

 

Interconnectedness: 

A single drop of water can reflect the entire ocean, symbolizing how small parts can carry the essence of the whole. Just as a drop is inseparable from the ocean, so are we connected to all life. 

We are not separate from the universe or the divine.

 

 

Depth in Simplicity: 

Even something as small as a drop can hold immense complexity — echoing philosophical or spiritual ideas of the universe within the microcosm.

 

Humility and Vastness:

The drop symbolizes humility, yet holds the power and mystery of the ocean. It teaches that even the smallest being is significant, holding depth, wisdom, and purpose.

 

 

 

Transformation and Return

Spiritually, the drop represents the soul’s journey — falling from the ocean of the Divine, experiencing individuality, and eventually returning to the source. This cycle parallels life, ego, enlightenment, and liberation.

You realize you were always free—moksha isn’t “achieved,” it’s uncovered. Life continues outwardly, but internally there's peace, non-attachment, and a sense of unity with all.

“You don’t attain moksha. You uncover it by realizing you were never bound.”

The approach is about removing ignorance (avidya), much like removing clouds to see the sun that was always shining. 😇

The Ocean Within the Drop — A Meditation

Close your eyes. Breathe deeply.

Imagine a single, clear droplet resting gently in the palm of your hand.
Within it, you see waves rolling, currents flowing, creatures swimming — a vast, living ocean held in stillness.

This droplet is you.

It holds all the depth of your thoughts, the motion of your emotions, the silence of your soul.
Though small in form, it reflects the infinite.
Though separate in shape, it is never apart from the source.

You are not isolated.
You are the ocean, momentarily shaped as a drop.

Feel the truth:
All that you seek — peace, truth, love — is already within.
The tides rise and fall inside your being.
The moon pulls gently on your heart.
The sun of consciousness warms your surface.

Let yourself dissolve…
Let the illusion of separateness fade.
Return not by moving — but by remembering.
You were never truly apart.

You are the drop.
You are the ocean.
You are the stillness and the surge.

Breathe. Be. Begin again.

 

How to feel better

“Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing the best you can.”

When you’re feeling low, going for a walk is probably the last thing you want to do. But when you are low, you likely aren’t just going to wake up and feel like suddenly taking a walk. Instead, you have to fake it till you make it.

 

“You can't bully yourself into feeling better. You can't negatively talk yourself into feeling better.”- Emma Mahony

“You have to start acting how you eventually want to feel. Start doing those things, those actions, before that feeling naturally comes,”

“Even just the act of going out in nature is a really helpful reset, and gives the ability to put things in perspective a bit and recognize that what’s going on within a building is not the entire world.”

Do things that you enjoyed doing as a child and remind yourself of those happy moments.

 

"Self-compassion involves acknowledging that this is a particularly challenging time, and that my feelings are both understandable and valid. It's entirely acceptable to not feel at my best, and I need not be overly critical of myself for it."

“Acknowledge that you’re a good person who’s just going through a hard time at this moment and you try to still remain good inside your core” 

“Even in your worst and lowest moments, attempt to recognize your core worth and value.”