In a previous post, an attempt was made to hint at the subjective nature of freedom, and how it is often a trade-off between freedom and stability or security. I hope it also brought out the point that often there is no direct relation between freedom (as meant in common usage) and happiness. Having said so much, one might still be of the opinion that freedom is still a much more desirable state than a stable, secure existence that curtails your choices. Of course, even those who subscribe to such views prefer to live in civilized societies that have laws limiting personal freedom, rather than in lawless jungles. But this does not prove that life in a lawless jungle is less desirable – just that they are afraid to embrace it, or don’t have what it takes to survive in such an environment. So, fear and limits of personal ability are primary impediments to freedom, again, as interpreted in common usage. When I say in common usage, I mean it as the right to follow ones choices and one’s will without the interference of an external agency. External is the operative word in today’s definition of freedom. So, though fear and limits of personal ability may prevent you from following your choices, as per the definition, you are still considered free because the only limitations are internal.

Let’s look at another case – of a toddler who is fascinated by the idea of jumping into a river, and is stopped by his father. We might view this as the father constraining the personal liberty of his son, but if the child is allowed to jump into the river, he will lose all the control that he has over his life and movement, and will be at the sole mercy of the current. Which is a state of greater freedom? To be not allowed to jump into the river, or to be helplessly swept away by the torrent and drown in it? It is a similar case when parents exercise discipline on their children, such as forbidding them from smoking or consuming alcohol. The current of bad habits are even stronger than than that of the river in the previous example. To say that an alcoholic who is allowed access to alcohol at all times has the freedom to drink as he pleases is as foolish as saying that a ship caught in a storm has been freed from the captains tyranny and is free to follow the wind. Here again, it is clear that external influences (such as that of a parent), though seemingly inimical to freedom in a myopic analysis may, in the long term, be conducive to true freedom. Discipline is the key to true freedom, and even as an external influence, it can aid in developing self control. Many modern-day influences tend to portray such discipline as a chain that curtails freedom, rather than as a prop that bolsters it.

There are many other subtler influences that enslave our thoughts and action whether we realize it or not. Peer pressure is one such. For example, many women have no better reason to go to work than to not appear less ambitious or accomplished than their peers who pursue a career. At a time when cigarette smoking was considered “cool” or “fashionable”, many young men started smoking in spite of the discomfort it caused because they did not want to be considered less stylish than their friends. If your boss asks you to stay late and finish an important assignment, you might realize that you don’t have the freedom to leave at will. But if the reason you work late is to please your boss and get a raise or a promotion, it is not as evident that the greed for money or the desire to gratify your ego hold sway over not only your actions, but also your thoughts. It is again due to such influences and our failure to recognize and correct them that our “free media” comes to serve vested interests of the powerful, and democratic governments become puppets in the hands of their corporate masters.

Freedom, as our society chases after today, is a mirage that leads in the wrong direction. As long as we do not break free from this delusion, real freedom will elude us. Thinking that the threat to our freedom is outside us and trying to address it externally, we have already undone many of our age-old traditions that are conducive to true freedom – much like a pilot who throws out the engine in order to reduce the weight of the aircraft, thereby hoping to increase the range. Instead, if we surrender to the wisdom of our forefathers and subject ourselves to their discipline, we will be opening the doors to true freedom and unending happiness. What is true freedom, and how does Indian culture lead us there? We shall attempt to answer these questions in upcoming posts.