Over the years one of the topics that has always confused many Gursikhs is that of Mukhti. Many Gursikhs do Ardas to Guru Sahib to give them Mukhti, and others say Gursikhs have nothing to do with Mukhti, only Preet for Guru Sahib's Charan Kamal. So what exactly is Mukhti in Gurmat? Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh clears this up in the following short article that has been translated, please forgive any mistakes.
This Avastha is obtained by that blessed servant (of Akaal Purakh) who meets the True Guru and becomes the follower of Satguru, and obtains Gurmantar Naam. After receiving Gurmantar they dedicate their mind and body to the jaap of this Naam, spending their entire life in dedication to this Naam. Doing so they save themselves and are blessed with the status of Mutkh (liberation).
Mukhti in Gurmat is totally different from other religions. According to Gurmat, Mukhti is not just the soul leaving the body for the last time. Some have named Mukhti the release of the soul from this pain-ridden body, but Mukhti is not received like this. Some have named reaching heaven or paradise as Mukthi, even this falls short of Gurmat Mukhti. Mukhti is not being freed from pain and suffering, Mukhti has nothing to do with Prakirti and Purakh, Mukhti is not attaining any yogic state. The Mukhti of Vedant, the Mukhti of Nirvana in Buddhism, the Mukhti of the Jains and their Ahimsa, is not Gurmat Mukhti, even freeing yourself from coming and going (in this world) is not the True Mukhti. Gurmat Mukhti is totally separate and above all of these.
According to Gurmat all these are all limited Mukhtis, they fall short of Gurmat Mukhti. Gumukhs reject these types of Mukhtis and have nothing to do with them. Gurmukhs are engrossed in the Jot of Vaahiguroo Jee and totally immersed in the Jot they are aashiks (lovers) and seekers of this Jot Darshan only. They eat the Amrit Bhojan Naam and having love for Akaal Purakh's Charan Kamal they are satisfied and are considered Jeevan-Mukhat. According to Gurmat True Mukhti is getting Darshan of the Jot of Akaal Purakh within this body, only this can be called the True Mukhti. Whilst living in the world they remained free of the entanglements of Maya, like a lotus while living in the water stays above the dirt of the water, they only dealt in the business of Naam, only they are Mukhat. This Mukhti can only be attained by coming into the sanctuary of the Guru’s Charan Kamal and by serving Guru Sahib. By doing Seva of Guru Sahib and getting Mukhti is the true Mukhti, it is not like the others which are empty. By getting Darshan of the Jot, the mind is satisfied and all of the doubts and sufferings of the mind are ceased and he is evidently emancipated. In the Guru’s house countless Gursikhs have been saved in this way. If anyone has ever been saved then they have only been saved by singing the Praises of Akaal Purakh Jee, by doing Naam Abhiaas and Keertan, by doing so the Guru’s Sants, Bhagats and Gurmukhs have been saved and will continue to be saved, no one else can be saved. Their main objective is to meet their beloved Akaal Purakh, this is their Mukhti, and they do not even glance towards other types of Mukhtis.
-Adapted from Bhai Shaib Bhai Randhir Singh's Anhad Shabad Dasam Duar Book
ਸਤਿਗੁਰਬਚਨਕਮਾਵਣੇਸਚਾਏਹੁਵੀਚਾਰੁ॥