Freedom. One word…one word steeped in meaning and powerful imagery. Through time man has fought and died for the value of this word. And yet what value does this word truly hold? Are we free from the conceptual baggage that has gathered to this word? Or does the very word and its meaning imprison us in noble bars that hold us from a truly free and open life?
In social and economical terms money brings freedom and prestige. In political circles freedom is a trigger word used to invoke patriotism and often fear that our freedom is in jeopardy and threaten in some way. Is any of this freedom? Or do we simply bind ourselves to concepts that have been handed to us from those who are bound as tightly as we?
Spiritually, I would ask, from what is it that we could be free of? To rebel from a concept is to be forever within the grip of steely fingers of no escape. To flee, or fight an institution, government, or social order is to be a slave of the fight and the object of our discord. Is there no such thing as freedom than?
Yes and no. We can never be free from a world that exists as much within as without. We can not be separate from the whole. In this very recognition we can gain a measure of true freedom. We are the world and the world is us. There is no freedom because there is nothing to be free of or from. When we recognize the continuous nature of our being…we come to an understanding that we are all things and nothing at once. We are free because we are. And when we simply are…in full connection to life and wonder...we are such pure expressions of freedom that the notion itself loses all meaning and value. There is no need to break from anything. We have arrived to ourselves. Free.

Love,
Eric

Thank you Eric, for a very powerful post.
It gives me a great deal to think about.

The animal kingdom has always enjoyed more freedom than human beings; they have not carried so much baggage of greed and other unpleasantness around, but you are right:

quote:

There is no need to break from anything. We have arrived to ourselves. Free.

Love, Inda

Thank you Eric.
It is good to find you on Givnology sharing your thoughts.
We are lucky that we have freedom.

Love,
Sue

Dear Eric,
I am also very happy to read your interesting post here on Givnology. Thank you for sharing this wisdom with us.

Love
Vicky

What wonderful FREE THINKING dear Eric!

This freedom business is a strange beast... even without getting into politricks!

I have a song: "Free to be Me" and it basically says that we have MENTAL PRISONS and the freedom "is within" (of course if you're not in a real prison!).

To be "free to drive a car" still means following road signs, and courtesy. Free art usually means some kind of abstraction, and yes, some people don't like it's anti-rigidity. Free expression, now that is a grand thing! Free association, free food for thought, free of self-imposed limitations.. there are many freedoms I love sooo much!

But there is also freedom to be stupid... and I think people abuse this priveledge, blasting angry music out of their cars, being death-wish idiots on the freeway, free to abuse freedoms... these freedoms I don't like so much, but as you say, we have to be more of a totality and accept.

quote:

Originally posted by Ericc:
When we recognize the continuous nature of our being…we come to an understanding that we are all things and nothing at once. We are free because we are. And when we simply are…in full connection to life and wonder...we are such pure expressions of freedom that the notion itself loses all meaning and value. There is no need to break from anything. We have arrived to ourselves. Free.

AMEN AND AWOMEN! - as long as we have free selves! he he..

Free-flowing, this is how I like my ideas. Freedom inspiring, this is how I like my art. Free movement is a great type of dance - one of the thinks I remember from the 60's, "Butterfly Chasing" they called it, relaxing!



Strange how free food given to homeless and the restaurants complain, but they need their free market, meaning ability to work and make money... so sometimes freedoms do COLLIDE. Like in prayers and affirmations, may I be as free as I wish and not impose on anyone else's freedoms. Amen.

Thanks for sharing this Eric! Thanks for the FREE WORDS! he he..

Love and light being, Teo Do (Re, Mi, Fa, Soul...)

Thank you Eric.
I have enjoyed reading this post. I love Teo's picture.

Sincerely,
Gisele