Re: [INDOLOGY] siddha <-> jīvanmukta ?

[Robert Zydenbos]

Good afternoon, Patrick,

As it stands, I fear your question is unanswerable because it is not
sufficiently specific. There are numerous terms across Indian traditions
that more or less refer to similar matters, but due to metaphysical,
ontological and soteriological differences they are not equivalent or
exchangeable. One question, for instance, would concern the definition
of mukti: can one speak of mukti while a person is still embodied, or
not? Is mukti to be considered de facto equivalent with enlightenment,
or not? (In Jaina thought, to give just one concrete example, this is
the difference between an ayogakevalin and a sayogakevalin, both of whom
are enlightened. An ayogakevalin is a siddha or mukta. There is no place
for a concept of jīvanmukti here.)

Robert Zydenbos


patrick mccartney wrote:

> Dear Friends, 
> 
> I am seeking clarification on the following terms. 
> 
> Are the terms s/iddha /and /jīvanmukta/ synonymous? 
> 
> If someone is considered to be a siddha, does that imply that they are
> 'liberated in this lifetime'? 
> 
> Does anyone know of any discussion that explicitly links these terms?
> 
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Patrick McCartney

-- 
Prof. Dr. Robert J. Zydenbos
Institute of Indology and Tibetology
Department of Asian Studies
University of Munich
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
80538 Munich
Germany
Tel. (+49-89-) 2180-5782
Fax (+49-89-) 2180-5827
Web http://zydenbos.userweb.mwn.de/