Eligibility

The Swetashwara Upanishad says that those who are eligible to receive the benefits of Jeevanmukti state are threefold:

(1) The disciples of a Sadguru
(2) The devotees of God, and
(3) The neutral ones among the atheists and theists (even an atheist gets cleansed of all sin and redeemed from bondage if he catches the eyes of a yogi.  A Yogi’s blessing will bring about the process of purification.)

The Soota Samhita asserts categorically that the Yogi is a useful friend of all living beings.  Whoever stays mentally even for a second in unwavering thoughts of the Brahman is tantamount to his taking a dip in all the sacred waters (Theerthas), is equal to gifting the whole of the earthly land and is not different from one who performs a thousand yagnas and homas.  His ancestors get freedom from bondages of life.  His mother attains fulfillment.  He whose mind takes a dip in the ocean of jnana called Parabrahman renders his family tree pure and sacred.  He will earn the respect of all the three worlds.

Most of the finer points of Jeevanmukti state have in the past been the vital subjects of conversation between Sri Rama and Vasishta Maharshi in Threta Yuga and between Arjuna and Sri Krishna in Dwapara Yuga.

Sri Krishna clears Arjuna’s doubts:

Like many in this field, Arjuna was also obsessed by the finer points of the state of Jeevanmukti and problems that would confront one failing to make the grade.  He sought clarifications from Sri Krishna.

“Krishna! What do you think will happen to a person who is sufficiently enthusiastic but does not make efforts and a person meriting the description of “yogaatchalitamaanasaha” i.e., one whose mind constantly moves due to yoga, thus failing to attain yoga-siddhi? What kind of state does he get? On the path to attain the Brahman, does not the ignorant, the yogabhrashta and one bereft of support get destroyed like traces of cloud? Krishna! You alone are capable of dispelling my doubts and there is none else who can do it.”

“Partha!” said Sri Krishna, in answer to Arjuna’s interesting question, There is no destruction staring at a yogabhrashta in this world nor in the one above.  The reason is that a person who indulges in agreeable and auspicious things will not face a fall whatsoever.  A Yogabhrashta gets into higher loka inhabited only by the fortunate lot;  he will stay there for many years and then re-enter this world by taking birth in a very cultured and wealthy family.  He is born in fact in a family of intellectuals.  Such cases of rebirth in this world are very rare.  Such a person will combine in this incarnation the intellectual heights of the previous one.  Then he proceeds to put forth more significant efforts for attainment of the state of Jeevanmukti”. (Bhagawad Gita 6-37-43)