Becoming free from material existence means no more birth and death in the material world and going back to the spiritual world/spiritual manifestation.

Unfortunately most people are mislead by being brainwashed into believing that simply by going to temples, being vegetarian, fasting, worshiping, and performing other rituals and austerities. They falsely think they have achieved perfection and will go back to the spiritual manifestation. They ignore the reality that despite performing various devotional activities, if their consciousness has not been purified, they have not progressed. The only consideration that determines whether a soul will go back to the spiritual world or stay in the material world is the consciousness developed. So physical activities do not matter, it’s what’s in the heart that matters. How you behave with others and what you do for others and the planet is  very important.

The consciousness of people in the spiritual world is as follows:

* Everyone in the spiritual world is free from ego.
* Everyone in the spiritual world is free from pride.
* Everyone in the spiritual world is free from anger.
* Everyone in the spiritual world is the well wisher of everyone.
* Everyone in the spiritual world has a service to others nature.
* Everyone in the spiritual world will share everything they have with no others.
* Everyone in the spiritual world considers the well being of others before their own.
* Nobody in the spiritual world is self-centered.
* Everyone in the spiritual world is free from hatred.
* Everyone in the spiritual world is free from envy.
* Everyone in the spiritual world is free from jealousy.
* Everyone in the spiritual world is truthful.
* Everyone in the spiritual world is loyal.
* Everyone in the spiritual world is clean.

 

To become free from the material world, we must become qualified to enter the spiritual world. Thus we must develop all the above qualities which are based on the scriptural teaching that everyone is blissful in the spiritual world, and thus one must possess all the above qualities to the highest degree to be blissful.

“One who is the kind well-wisher of all living beings, who is peaceful and firmly fixed in knowledge and realization, sees Me within all things. Such a person never again falls down into the cycle of birth and death.” (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 11.7.12)
“The inhabitants and ruling demigods of all planets, along with Lord Brahmā, the Supreme Lord Hari and I, glorify, worship and assist those brāhmaṇas who are saintly, always peaceful, free of material attachment, compassionate to all living beings, purely devoted to us, devoid of hatred and endowed with equal vision. These devotees do not differentiate between Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and me, nor do they differentiate between themselves and other living beings. Therefore, because you are this kind of saintly devotee, we worship you. Mere bodies of water do not constitute holy places, nor are lifeless statues of the demigods actual worshipable deities. Because external vision fails to appreciate the higher essence of the holy rivers and the demigods, these purify only after a considerable time. But devotees like you purify immediately, just by being seen. (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 12.10.20-23)
The above is basically is saying that those humans who possess the above spiritual world consciousness to a higher degree can purify others to their level if they associate with them. Merely taking bath in holy rivers, worshiping deities, or performing rituals and austerities might purify one after many lifetimes (considerable time). So the point is to develop our consciousness to a higher level by taking good actions.