'Freedom' is a very sacred precious word.Every living or non-living being loves freedom so much that one's freedom becomes a bondage of the other! A river seeks freedom from its banks, so also, a tiny creature seeks freedom from capture and enslavement. Even a tree bleeds when somebody cuts it! What is this 'freedom' that is so precious, so sanctified and enshrined in all constitutions or dharma shastra. No one shall cross his/her limits, maryada, to restrict the freedom of others. One's freedom is bound by the Rule- 'that far and no further' . One can stretch his hands or legs only to such extent that it does not touch others! Hence one must know that there is no such thing as 'unbridled freedom'.
There are three important types of freedom one can exercise. One, the freedom of the physical existence. The body has its own limitations and it works within that. Second, the mind is almost always free, but certainly it works within certain limits. Third, the soul is totally free and never gets entangled in any sort of existence! This third freedom is the one that every jiva relishes,aspires, and wants to enjoy not knowing that it is already 'free' due to avidya, nescience.
As long as the jiva is apart of the cosmic existence it has no freedom whatsoever! Anything happening anywhere in the cosmos affects it! This is how the jiva is a product of nature and has no free existence on its own. Social contract theory explains how "Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains!" There is no absolute freedom in the social, economic, political spheres of life and one can never hope to enjoy that. freedom is limited in all these spheres.
When it comes to the mind, there is no such thing as freedom here at all! Only a yogi, who controls the mind is free. He is the master and all his senses, mind, intellect, ego surrender to him and he rules it from the seat of the soul! This is real freedom. There are many examples like Ashtavakra, Avadhoota, Raikva, etc who have demonstrated what freedom is! This level of understanding is necessary to live free and die free!
Now, as to the means of attaining absolute freedom, the ancient scriptures give us detailed description about all these. the fundamental basis of freedom is sacrifice. sacrifice, tyaga, is very important. freedom lies in sacrifice. the entire universe runs on the basis of sacrifice, yajnya, tyaga. Be free by getting rid of all thos that bind you. these include attachment, ego, greed, avarice, jealous, etc. It is stated that knowledge brings freedom. But knowledge also brings bondage. One has to give up what all that is acquired since birth in order to be free as the jiva was before its embodiment and embedded state. Hence freedom lies in sacrifice.
Whoever is established in the Self is free. A person of equanimous mind 'sthitaprajnya', the one unperturbed by the external happenings is really free, happy and joyful for ever.
Now, as to the means of attaining absolute freedom, the ancient scriptures give us detailed description about all these. the fundamental basis of freedom is sacrifice. sacrifice, tyaga, is very important. freedom lies in sacrifice. the entire universe runs on the basis of sacrifice, yajnya, tyaga. Be free by getting rid of all thos that bind you. these include attachment, ego, greed, avarice, jealous, etc. It is stated that knowledge brings freedom. But knowledge also brings bondage. One has to give up what all that is acquired since birth in order to be free as the jiva was before its embodiment and embedded state. Hence freedom lies in sacrifice.
Whoever is established in the Self is free. A person of equanimous mind 'sthitaprajnya', the one unperturbed by the external happenings is really free, happy and joyful for ever.
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