For the attainment of salvation, which is the ultimate objective of mankind, three paths have been enunciated in our holy scriptures and expounded by our ancient sages and seers – 1) Gyanayoga, 2) Karmayoga and 3) Bhaktiyoga. In short, the knowledge about the existence of God and the temporary nature of this material world, is Gyanayoga. Earnest efforts to realize Atamtatva (which is an inseparable part of Paramtatva) and to render selfless service to His creation, is ‘Karmayoga’. Unconditional surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord and a firm conviction that you belong to God and God belongs to you and both are one entity, is ‘Bhaktiyoga’. Inculcating more and more of ‘Satoguna’ and relinquishing ‘Rajoguna’ and ‘Tamoguna’; ie., realization about the existence of God, the ultimate truth, detachment from the material world, and overcoming ego-centric desires (I, me, and mine) are important milestones towards that end. In the ultimate analysis, to be one with God, we need to transcend these three Gunas, because these Gunas also have a binding factor. e.g. I am ‘Saatvic’ (‘I’ still remains there, which is a binding factor). The fact is that there is only Him (God) – Vasudev Sarvam; and everything else in the ‘Brahmand’ comes within His ambit and is a part of HIM.

The human body is a creation of nature and therefore mutable, while the soul derives from God and is, consequently, eternal. The body, because of its very nature, is prone to decay, but the soul is incorruptible. Tamoguna, Rajsoguna, and Satoguna are the characteristics of nature, whereas God is beyond these gunas. It is human susceptibility to Tamoguna and Rajoguna that binds us to the material world and makes us suffer. Transcendence from these gunas, releases us from the short-lived pleasures of earthly existence and we become one with ‘Sat-chitta-ananda’, where there is no ego, but a state of bliss. The moment this knowledge dawns upon us, that moment is attainment of ‘Nirvana’.