Advaita Vedanta

===Knowledge is liberating===
[[File:Sri Ramana Maharshi - Portrait - G. G Welling - 1948.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Ramana Maharshi]], the Indian sage who is widely regarded as a Jivanmukta]]
{{See also|Jnana|Prajna (Vedic)|Mahāvākyas#Prajñānam Brahma|l1=Jnana|l2=Prajna|l3=Prajñānam Brahma}}

The soteriological goal, in Advaita, is to gain self-knowledge as being in essence (Atman), awareness or [[Sakshi (Witness)|witness-consciousness]], and complete understanding of the identity of ''jivan-ātman'' and [[Brahman]].{{sfn|Comans|2000|p=183}} Correct knowledge of Atman and Brahman is the attainment of ''Brahman'', immortality,{{sfn|Rambachan|2006|p=26}} and leads to ''[[moksha]]'' (liberation) from suffering{{refn|group=note|The suffering created by the workings of the mind entangled with physical reality}} and ''samsara'', the cycle of rebirth{{sfn|Comans|2000|p=183}} This is stated by Shankara as follows:
{{blockquote|
<poem>
I am other than name, form and action.
My nature is ever free!
I am Self, the supreme unconditioned Brahman.
I am pure Awareness, always non-dual.
</poem>
|Adi Shankara, [[Upadesasahasri]] 11.7|{{sfn|Comans|2000|p=183}}}}

According to Advaita Vedānta, liberation can be achieved while living, and is called ''[[Jivanmukti]]''.{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2002|p=320}} {{sfn|Comans|2000|pp=183–184}}{{refn|group=note|name=transformation}} in contrast to ''Videhamukti'' (moksha from samsara after death) in theistic sub-schools of Vedānta.{{sfn|Deussen|1980}}{{better source needed|date=January 2022}} The Atman-knowledge, that is the knowledge of true Self and its relationship to Brahman is central to this liberation in Advaita thought.{{refn|group=note|The true Self is itself just that pure consciousness, without which nothing can be known in any way.(...) And that same true Self, pure consciousness, is not different from the ultimate world Principle, Brahman&nbsp; (...) Brahman (<nowiki>=</nowiki>the true Self, pure consciousness) is the only Reality (''sat''), since It is untinged by difference, the mark of ignorance, and since It is the one thing that is not sublimatable.{{sfn|Potter|2008|pp=6–7}}}} Atman-knowledge, to Advaitins, is that state of full awareness, liberation and freedom which overcomes dualities at all levels, realizing the divine within oneself, the divine in others and all beings, the non-dual Oneness, that Brahman is in everything, and everything is Brahman.{{sfn|Rambachan|2006|pp=7, 99–103}}{{sfn|Sharma|2007|pp=9–13, 29–30, 45–47, 79–86}}{{refn|group=note|name="Fowler2002_monism"}}

According to [[Anantanand Rambachan]], in Advaita, this state of liberating self-knowledge includes and leads to the understanding that "the self is the self of all, the knower of self sees the self in all beings and all beings in the self."{{sfn|Rambachan|2006|pp=109–111}}
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