'VICHARA SANGRAHAM' OF BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI Realisation of the Self can be gained in this very life. In fact,Self-realisation is not something which is to be gained afresh. We are already the Self: the Self alone is. It is ignorance that makes us imagine that we have not realized the Self. When this ignorance is removed through Self-knowledge,we realize our eternal Self-nature. One who has gained this realisation is called a jivamukta. To others ,he may appear to continue to tenant a body. For the benefit of those others it is stated that the body will continue so long as the residue of the parabdha karma lasts,and that when the momentum is spent the body will fall and the jivanmukta will become a videhamukta. But from the stand point of the Absolute Truth,there is no difference in mukti. What needs to be understood is that mukti or release is the inalienable nature of the Self.