Even though we might think ourselves free and celebrate independence / freedom every year, but the point to wonder deeply is - Are we really free?
Before we go into this topic let us actually understand what is - Freedom?
1. The power or right to act, speak or think as one wants
2. The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
Understanding Illusion - Maya.
A state of illusion is when we are fooled to believe in something that apparently appears to be real. A dream is kind of illusion, where we get to live in a virtual place, with virtual people and animals around, but we falsely assume it to be real. That is why during nightmares we sweat and scream and respond as if it's reality. However eventually, the dream breaks and we return back to our real state. Just imagine the condition if we sleep and get a dream which never breaks. We would virtually live-in-the-dream. We would believe that whatever we are dreaming is, in fact, the reality.It would have been a lot easier situation if “only we” were in illusion and we had someone to make us understand our pitiable condition. But who will help us if each and every person and living entity around us is in a spell of the same illusion? We all are living in a spell – of the illusionary energy – Maya. That is why we need the association of the scriptures which enlightens us and intelligent people or guru who guide us.
Scriptural point of view.
Let us see what our scriptures say –
We are all enslaved by our senses!!
As mentioned in the purport of Srimad Bhagavad Gita - 6.34, by His Devine Grace A. C. Prabhupad,
Just as illustrated in above analogy, we are like the terrified passenger riding on this chariot of the body, which is being pulled madly by five uncontrolled horses (representing our senses). The horses are running uncontrollably since the driver (our intelligence) doesn't have control over the reins (our mind).
To control the senses we need to control the mind, just like to control the horses we need to control or pull the reins. But it is very difficult to control our mind, even a great warrior like Arjuna found it so difficult, as he said to Supreme Personality Of God Head - Krishna in Srimad Bhagavad Gita - 6.34;
Srila Prabhupada further explains -
In the Vedic literatures [Katha Upanishad 1.3.3] it is said:
ātmānaṁ rathinaṁ viddhi śarīraṁ ratham eva ca
buddhintu sārathiṁ viddhi manaḥ pragraham eva ca
indriyāṇi hayānāhur viṣayāṁs teṣu gocarān
ātmendriya-mano-yukto bhoktety āhur manīṣiṇaḥ.
The individual is the passenger in the car of the material body, and intelligence is the driver. Mind is the driving instrument, and the senses are the horses. The self is thus the enjoyer or sufferer in the association of the mind and senses. So it is understood by great thinkers.
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The chariot of the body. The five horses represent the five senses (tongue, eyes, ears, nose and skin). The reins, the driving instrument, symbolize the mind, the driver is the intelligence, and the passenger is the spirit soul. [Bhagavad-gita 6.34] (Source: http://www.asitis.com/gallery/plate23.html) |
Just as illustrated in above analogy, we are like the terrified passenger riding on this chariot of the body, which is being pulled madly by five uncontrolled horses (representing our senses). The horses are running uncontrollably since the driver (our intelligence) doesn't have control over the reins (our mind).
To control the senses we need to control the mind, just like to control the horses we need to control or pull the reins. But it is very difficult to control our mind, even a great warrior like Arjuna found it so difficult, as he said to Supreme Personality Of God Head - Krishna in Srimad Bhagavad Gita - 6.34;
cancalam hi manah krsna
pramathi balavad drdham
tasyaham nigraham manye
vayor iva su-duskaram
For the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Kṛṣṇa, and to subdue it is, it seems to me, more difficult than controlling the wind.
Srila Prabhupada further explains -
The mind is so strong and obstinate that it sometimes overcomes the intelligence, although the mind is supposed to be subservient to the intelligence. For a man in the practical world who has to fight so many opposing elements, it is certainly very difficult to control the mind. Artificially, one may establish a mental equilibrium toward both friend and enemy, but ultimately no worldly man can do so, for this is more difficult than controlling the raging wind.
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Intelligence is supposed to direct the mind, but the mind is so strong and obstinate that it often overcomes even one’s own intelligence, as an acute infection may surpass the efficacy of medicine. Such a strong mind is supposed to be controlled by the practice of yoga, but such practice is never practical for a worldly person like Arjuna. And what can we say of modern man? The simile used here is appropriate: one cannot capture the blowing wind. And it is even more difficult to capture the turbulent mind.
We are controlled by Three Modes of Material Nature!!
As mentioned in Srimad Bhagavad Gita - 3.27,
prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate
The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of material nature.
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[Bhagavad-gita 3.27] (Source: http://www.krishna.com/) |
These [three modes of material nature] are subtle forces that influence our behavior as well as every aspect of our physical, mental, and emotional world. The Sanskrit term for these forces is guna, "rope," and the Gita explains how they pull us to act in various ways, even against our better judgment.[Source: http://www.krishna.com/info/modes-nature]
The effects of sattva-guna, the mode of goodness, are seen when an atmosphere of peace, serenity, and harmony prevails in our environment and ourselves.
Rajo-guna, the mode of passion, is felt as insatiable desire for temporary things, striving for more and more of them, and perpetual dissatisfaction.
Tamo-guna, the mode of ignorance, is indicated when there's laziness, depression, intoxication, and insanity.
The painting depicts the three modes of nature as puppeteers controlling our actions.
Many times we proudly think all our achievements are nothing but our merit. However, as said in above verse and shown in the painting, we are mere puppets.
Srila Prabhupada further explains -
Two persons, one in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and the other in material consciousness, working on the same level, may appear to be working on the same platform, but there is a wide gulf of difference in their respective positions.
The person in material consciousness is convinced by false ego that he is the doer of everything. He does not know that the mechanism of the body is produced by material nature, which works under the supervision of the Supreme Lord. The materialistic person has no knowledge that ultimately he is under the control of Kṛṣṇa.
The person in false ego takes all credit for doing everything independently, and that is the symptom of his nescience. He does not know that this gross and subtle body is the creation of material nature, under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such his bodily and mental activities should be engaged in the service of Kṛṣṇa, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
The ignorant man forgets that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as Hṛṣīkeśa, or the master of the senses of the material body, for due to his long misuse of the senses in sense gratification, he is factually bewildered by the false ego, which makes him forget his eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
Revisiting Definition of Freedom.
Mostly freedom is seen to be celebrated in the pub, bar, disco by the people drowned with smoke and alcohol. They declare themselves free and this act as “an-act-of-freedom”.
A little common sense will help them understand how shackled they are to their senses that these chemicals are controlling them, what we call as addiction. This is the most pitiable condition a person can choose to be in.
A little common sense will help them understand how shackled they are to their senses that these chemicals are controlling them, what we call as addiction. This is the most pitiable condition a person can choose to be in.
Now let us revisit the definitions –
1. The power or right to act, speak or think as one wants
When we say act – we might as well include – eating, sleeping, reading, playing, everything.
Let us give it a thought today – are we really “acting”, “speaking” or “thinking” what we want or it is the factors described above (sense gratification , modes of nature) that is making us – act , speak and think?
2. The state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
This is the most important question to be asked to oneself – are we not enslaved?
A free person if brought to prison would easily understand his miserable condition, but a person born in a prison will take years to acknowledge it until he associates with a free person who makes him understand the meaning of being free. Then he might start thinking on ways to get out of the prison wall and live in the city of free people.
Therefore understanding the state of slavery is the first step to freedom.
Now that we (at least theoretically) understand we are not free but just puppets, we should try to find ways to freedom.
This is possible only by empowering our intelligence and controlling our mind.
.... The easiest way to control the mind, as suggested by Lord Caitanya, is chanting “Hare Kṛṣṇa,” the great mantra for deliverance, in all humility. The method prescribed is sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ: one must engage one’s mind fully in Kṛṣṇa. Only then will there remain no other engagements to agitate the mind.
[Srimad Bhagavad Gita - 6.34:Srila Prabhupad]
Let us raise our hands, up in the air, and chant - Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. and make our step towards real freedom!!
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