Essential Zen

Freedom

I recall once talking about spiritual stuff with my eldest son, him asking me what my goal was, and at the time I said, "Freedom". He seemed satisfied with that answer - end of discussion. As time has gone on, my goal has changed, from Freedom, to Enlightenment, and now, I seem no longer to have a goal.

The purpose of this little post, however, has to do with "Freedom". Of late, whenever someone has said their goal was "Freedom", I've asked them, "Freedom from what?" I have yet to receive a coherent answer. Perhaps because it just sounds good, I guess...I dropped it because ultimately the goal seemed nonsensical since I had no answer myself. Others have used the Plato's Cave analogy, but to my recollection, I don't see how that is applicable. I'm not in a cave, even an allegorical cave. I have no real restrictions...I can have a beer for breakfast if I want, sit on my ass all day if I want, read, watch TV, listen to every imaginable kinds of music via satellite...I'm aware of the so-called NLP and propaganda; I feel bound by none of it. My cars are all paid for, and now my rent for the next year. I'm on the Social Security dole, and so far, that has met all my needs. So, from what need I free myself? Indeed, from what are others wanting to free themselves?

Some more thoughts -

Freedom from self-doubt could be seen as freedom from concern about what others think of you, freedom from others expectations. That in turn connects back with what is accomplished via recapitulation and all the other "tools of the way", which is freeing oneself from the misconceptions of childhood, freeing oneself of self-hatred, and becoming an unconcerned man. Then you can truly "do what thou wilt".

...and further more -

So far, no one, no seer/sorcerer/Nagual/adept has been able to describe that which exists outside Plato's Cave, which analogy is often used to define "freedom". My thought is if there is a "greater" or "higher" reality available, and if accomplished beings have found it, why don't they go there and stay there, rather than remaining stuck here with the rest of us in the mud, blood and beer? The least they could do would be to report back.

Gonzo wrote:Some more thoughts -

Freedom from self-doubt could be seen as freedom from concern about what others think of you, freedom from others expectations. That in turn connects back with what is accomplished via recapitulation and all the other "tools of the way", which is freeing oneself from the misconceptions of childhood, freeing oneself of self-hatred, and becoming an unconcerned man. Then you can truly "do what thou wilt".

I too have come to this, true Freedom, comes from within, dropping expectations that have been projected upon self, misconceptions about self that are given to us by people who want/need to put us into some category, to keep the tonal in order for them. Freeing ourselves from judgment, which imo is the only way to self hatred...good stuff right there