Seven Steps to Kaivalya Dham

   Kaivalya dham or Kailash and Vaikuntha are considered the abode of Shiva and Vishnu, respectively. Every jiva aspires to reach the param pada, the feet of Shiva or Vishnu. Once the jiva gets embodied on the earth as a mortal it undergoes trails and travails. It finally realizes the futility of its mundane existence. It is only after this realization of the futility of mundane existence that the jiva seeks guidance and looks for redemption. The learned sages have realized the 'truth'. They guide the seekers to find salvation. However, the jiva has to strive hard to attain its goal.

   The seven steps to kaivalya, attainment of moksha are declared in the Gita to be: jnyana, viveka, vairagya, yajnya, dana, and tapas. These are sure steps to liberation, mukti of the embedded, embodied, mortal jiva. The jiva should climb every step steadily, carefully, and hold on to firmly till the next step is reached. This is not easy. there is every chance of getting losing grip and falling back! The guidance and support of a guru is essential here.

   Jnyan is defined in the Gita. The jiva shall strive to realize its true nature, The Blessed Lord says, the "jnyani is very dear to Me." Here, jnyan, knowledge is not the information about the mundane collected from the material world. It is the para vidya, higher knowledge, supreme knowledge Vedanta- spiritual knowledge. This 'Knowledge of the Self', Atma-jnyan, cannot be obtained until and unless one closes the door to the external world and start the inner inner journey. This viveka, wisdom, churned out of right knowledge also comes with the help of a guru. So one has to start life of surrender to the higher self with all humility and live a life of simplicity, renunciation.
   The jiva should first realize its predicament, Unless it realizes that it is in a wrong place there will be no effort to seek the right one. If the jive rejoices in its mundane existence due to ignorance there is no problem. It will take repeated births and deaths until it seeks redemption, one day! 
   The jiva has to experience in full, with full awareness, what it is doing and what it wants. Then only, the right knowledge comes. But, such a knowledge will rarely come to a jiva running on errands due to its unending desires! Attachment to the mundane clouds its intelligence and it is very difficult to tutor the jiva and guide it on the right path, sat nyasa.