A seeker’s journey toward moksha in the Upanishads unfolds almost like an inner treasure hunt, where every clue points back to the one unchanging reality—Brahman. First comes shravanam (listening): attentive absorption of a guru’s teachings, much like tuning into a masterclass podcast. Next is manana (reflection), turning those teachings over in the mind until they click like a lightbulb moment. Finally, nididhyāsana (deep meditation) carves out the space where the self dissolves into pure awareness.

Core to this path is jnana yoga, the discipline of knowledge. Discrimination (viveka) separates the real from the unreal—atman from the fleeting body-mind drama—while non-attachment (vairāgya) encourages letting go of every knot tying happiness to externals. In an age when mindfulness apps and silent retreats trend on social media, these ancient tools still pack a punch: austerity (tapas) polishes the mirror of consciousness, raja yoga steadies the mind, and karma yoga purifies intent through selfless action.

The famous “neti neti” (“not this, not that”) serves as carrot and stick: negating every false identity until only the Self remains. This technique feels tailor-made for our times, when digital identities often cloud true awareness. A journey through climate marches or virtual reality needn’t distract; rather, every moment—scrubbing dishes or scrolling headlines—can become a step toward the timeless “tat tvam asi” (“thou art that”).

Self-realization in the Upanishads isn’t a lofty mountain peak visible only to a select few; it’s the very ground beneath the feet, discovered by peeling back layers of ignorance like an onion. Liberation comes not as an escape hatch but as the dawning recognition that there never was any real entanglement to begin with. Once the final veil lifts, every heartbeat echoes the ancient mantra: Ātman and Brahman are one and the same.