This is from the Mumukshu Vyavahara Prakarana of Yoga Vasishta, 4th Sarga.

Sadeha Mukti - Liberation with the body.
Videha Mukti - Liberation without the body.

The soul, which is naturally eternally free, is bound by the covering of ignorance. The destruction of this ignorance by knowledge leads to liberation.

You see the lifelike statue of a tiger just as you enter a room. You get scared. But when you realize that it is only a statue, your fear is gone. Ignorance too, once removed, makes the world appear as a source of wonder, not suffering.
There is no difference between Sadeha Mukti and Videha Mukti. Just as water in the ocean remains the same in both stillness and waves, the essence of Sadeha Mukti and Videha Mukti is also the same.

Whether liberation occurs with the body or without, it is not dependent on external objects. If liberation is like swarga, dependent on external things, it would vary according to those things.

But one might argue that the two types of liberation differ because one has a body and experiences, while the other does not.

Sage Vasishta responds to this by stating that when one does not experience objects with the belief that they are real, there is no sense of enjoyment or suffering. The person who sees the unity of the self remains detached and does not identify with experiences, so there is no real difference in the state of liberation.

How can the liberated ones still have a body?

Vasishta explains that we see the great sage Vedavyasa and other Jivanmuktas as if they have a body, but this is only our imagination. For them, there is no disturbance in their firm realization of being without a body.

The point is, even though we perceive them as having a body due to our own imagination, they are firmly rooted in their realization of being beyond the body. Therefore, based on their experience, there is no difference between being liberated with a body or without a body.

Ignorance is the only thing that creates differences. Once ignorance is destroyed, and only knowledge remains, what is left to cause any distinction?
There is none. Just as water remains the same whether in the form of waves or still, similarly, the essence of a liberated person remains the same whether with or without a body.

Water can be affected by impurities or dirt. In the same way, can there be some difference between Sadeha Mukti and Videha Mukti?

Vasishta explains that there is absolutely no difference between Sadeha or Videha liberation, just as wind, whether moving fast or still, remains wind. The nature of the wind does not change based on its motion. Similarly, the liberated soul remains the same, whether in a body or without it. There is no distinction between the two states.

Then what about the body?

Concepts like Sadeha Mukti, Videha Mukti, bondage, and liberation are all products of the imagination. From the perspective of absolute truth, these distinctions do not exist. The only true reality is the non-dual unity of the self.
Since the result of knowledge is eternal, there is no fear of it being impermanent. Once knowledge arises, the question of the body falling away is irrelevant because knowledge itself negates the contrary experiences caused by ignorance.

The body remains due to prarabdha karma but does not interfere with knowledge. This explains that until the effects of prarabdha karma are exhausted, the body persists, but the realized one remains free from bondage.

Therefore, the existence of the body after enlightenment is not in conflict with knowledge, just as lingering dream impressions do not conflict with waking reality.

Don’t complicate things

Sage Vasishta addresses Lord Rama and says, "O Ramachandra, understand that the essence of the examples I have shared is to show the unwavering nature of the ultimate reality. Do not imagine unnecessary distinctions based on different actions or forms, which create differences in appearance. I am imparting the highest knowledge, which is extremely pleasing to the ears and destroys the darkness of ignorance. Listen carefully to this knowledge."

The sage emphasizes that the true essence of all teachings is the unchanging nature of reality. One should not create unnecessary distinctions or complexities based on external differences, as they are all products of the mind. The knowledge being imparted is meant to clear away ignorance and reveal the underlying unity in everything.

Lessons

1. There is no real difference between Sadeha Mukti (liberation with the body) and Videha Mukti (liberation without the body). The essence of liberation remains the same, whether one has a body or not. It is only ignorance that creates this distinction.
2. The only thing that creates differences between different states, like bondage and liberation, is ignorance. Once this ignorance is destroyed by knowledge, the realized soul sees no difference, just as water remains the same in stillness or waves.

The body remains due to prarabdha karma (the effects of past actions), but this does not interfere with the state of liberation. The realized one remains free from bondage, and the body continues only until karma is exhausted, just like lingering dream impressions after waking up.

Knowledge Bank

Which are the ashtangas of yoga?

1.Yama - abstinence from worldly distractions 2.Niyama - observance of spiritual rules 3.Asana - the practice of postures for physical fitness 4.Pranayama - attaining mind control through regulation of breathing 5.Pratyahara - withdrawing the senses from external objects 6.Dharana - concentration 7.Dhyana - meditation 8.Samadhi - keeping the mind still.

The Role of Effort and Divine Blessings

Hard work, perseverance, knowledge, skill, and experience are all important, but only as far as for performing actions effectively. However, the outcome is beyond your control. Only God determines the results of all actions, and without His blessings, nothing auspicious can occur.