Freedom
"Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."
— Me & Bobby McGee
What is true freedom? What is liberty? What is that spiritual liberation that people have sought through the ages? Is it possible that we can live life in bondage, and never realize that we are not really free? What controls our lives, if not we ourselves? As we will see, there are many forces which override our individual and collective freedom.
We often accept our lot in life, our troubles, our suffering, our bonds, without realizing there is something better, or that we can get free. Our minds are as confined and trapped as our feet are bound to the earth by gravity. And, the forces which securely bind our thinking are as subtle, omnipresent, and unseen as gravity. Sometimes we only become aware of the self-negating influences that are affecting us when they are near the point of taking over or ruling us and our lives.
Various behaviors that give us a sense of control, actually reveal that something in our life is out of control. One example is overeating. Obesity is not being "free" to eat as much as you like; it is living in bondage to self-destructive behavior, behavior that will bring greater disease, pain, and suffering. Rationalizing or liking or accepting such self-negating behavior does not in any way save you from the consequences of your choices and actions. Yet, people mistakenly feel "better," the more they feed their addictions, or the more self-destructive their behavior. In other words, if you feel you are free to muck around and get deeper into quicksand, are you really getting free? Not really. If you get more into what is wrong, you are not getting free from wrong, you are just drowning in it.
Think about your own life. Are you free, or are you controlled by something outside you? Some indications of loss of control are: use of drugs and alcohol, overeating, anxiety, stress, emotional reactiveness, addiction, confusion, self-deception, and depression. Being swamped by negative forces is not a sign of doing very well; and giving in to negativity is very self-destructive. Popular addictions, in a society which is addictive as a whole, include: gambling, television and other media, pornography, sex, sugar, caffeine, tobacco, work, religion, shopping, violence, risk taking, food, emotion, alcohol, drugs, physical appearance, exercise, "perfection," materialism, "success," and sports. Much of this behavior is valued or rewarded in our society. You need to ask your self what is ultimately of value and what is not, what takes you higher or brings you down, what caters to illusions or brings you closer to the truth. If the Truth brings you down — if you prefer your traps or addictions to the effort of getting free — you are not managing very well. read more ...
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