The difference between freedom, enlightenment and liberation from the perspective of spiritual science is as follows:.
Freedom
Real freedom is when, ‘even if there is suffering all around you, yet you are free from all worldly suffering and misery.’
One experiences freedom from:
The effects of anger, pride, deceit and greed.
All pain and unhappiness
All bodily pains and suffering
All suffering brought on by external circumstances.
Opinions, arguments and conflicts.
All of this is possible only if one has the knowledge of the Self. The awareness of freedom prevails constantly!
Enlightenment
Enlightenment is when the illusion that, ‘I am the owner of the name, body and ego’ is removed. This happens only when the right belief of one’s real Self has been established. This is the first step of enlightenment.
Following this spiritual enlightenment, one understands and begins to dwell constantly in the awareness that:
Really ‘I am a pure Soul’ in every circumstance and with everyone. The body and the Self remain separate, each carrying out their respective roles.
From the perspective of the Self, one no longer is the doer in any situation. You understand which entity runs the world, how everything unfolds and what is your role, as a Soul, in all of this.
Thus, no new karmas are charged. Thereafter, all that remains for a Self-realised being, is to finish each pending karma by remaining in the domain of the Self.
Liberation
Liberation happens in two stages:
When one attains Self-Realization. This is the first stage of liberation. As explained above, one experiences freedom from all kinds of suffering upon being enlightened with the fact that ‘I am really a Pure Soul, an abode of eternal bliss.’ Also, with this knowledge, the wrong belief of ‘I am the doer’ goes, and thus new karma are not charged anymore.
When all pending karmas are finished. This is defined as ultimate liberation. In this state, one has completely come into their real Self. The Self by its inherent nature is a source of constant bliss.
In the final liberation state, one is an Absolute Soul, meaning without any karma and its suffering. Thus, one liberates from the perpetual cycle of birth and death. With ultimate liberation, there comes an end to the wandering that has been going on for infinite lives.
To conclude:
Freedom, enlightenment and liberation can never be experienced without being Self-realised. Self-realisation is the gateway to freedom, enlightenment and ultimate liberation.
Through the knowledge of the Self, one understands one’s real nature of the Self. One experiences freedom from the bondage of karmas and their following effects. One experiences freedom from all kinds of suffering and misery.
As long as human beings have ignorance of the Self, the light of the Soul can never be experienced. Therefore, to be Self-realised is the goal of every human being.
To attain Self-Realization, we need to go to an Enlightened One, who has known the Soul, and with whose grace, we can know our Soul.
To know more:https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/spiritual-science/the-real-definition-of-pure-love/love-and-liberation/
Ambalal M. Patel was a civil contractor by profession. In June 1958, spontaneous Self-Realization occurred within Ambalal M. Patel. From this point on, Ambalal became a Gnani Purush, and the Lord that manifest within him became known as Dada Bhagwan. A Gnani Purush is One who has realized the Self and is able help others do the same. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan used to go from town to town and country-to-country to give satsang (spiritual discourse) and impart the knowledge of the Self, as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interactions to everyone who came to meet him. This spiritual science, known as Akram Vignan, is the step-less path to Self-realization.