Freedom

Question: Swami, many of us are helpless when we interact with youngsters. They often say, “Don’t interfere with our freedom. We are independent and act in the way we choose.” We find it difficult to convince them about what we think is right and to guide them in the right direction. What should we do in the present circumstances?

Bhagavan: From your statement, it is very clear that modern youth do not know what freedom is. They use terms like sveccha, freedom and svatantra, independence, indiscriminately without knowing their correct meaning.

What is freedom? What is independence? If freedom means behaving as we like, without any norms, in what way then are we different from birds and beasts, which act as they like? They move about freely without any restrictions. They also procreate producing dozens and dozens of young ones. If that is what the youngsters mean and want by ‘freedom’, insects, birds, and animals, without attending any universities and getting degrees are able to manage to secure food and shelter and live freely as ordained by nature. Then in what way does your freedom benefit you? What is your specialty? For what is your education? Animals are better than you as they have some reason and season. You have neither reason nor season.

What is sveccha, freedom? If the Sanskrit word sveccha is analyzed properly, sva+iccha is sveccha. Sva means ‘yourself,’ i.e. soul, spirit, atma; iccha means ‘will.’ Thus, sva, atma plus iccha—will means the will power of atma. So this relates to our atma. Is it that sveccha our youngsters want today? The pity is they do not know the meaning of the word they use.

Then, modern man says, “I have svatantra, independence, to do anything I like. Can’t I be independent?” Here also youngsters do not know the meaning of svatantra. Does svatantra mean reckless, careless, and irresponsible behavior? No. If you think that moving and roaming around, eating and drinking anything to your liking, are the signs of independence, don’t you see that cats and rats also enjoy themselves in the same manner? Does independence mean food and drink? You are spending your entire lifetime any way on these two, food and drink. Life has come down to the level of just loading and unloading.

Then what is svatantra, independence? You have to remember in this context one important point. True, you have independence. But there is a limit. Your independence should not come in the way of the independence of others. So you have independence up to the point that it does not affect the independence of others. A small example: On a fine morning, a gentleman started his stroll, waving his walking stick and swinging it freely. After some time, a man passing that way pointed out, “Do not swing your walking stick like that!” Then this man said, “Why not? I have independence and can move my walking stick in any way I like.” But, the other said, “Sir, it is true. But your independence to swing your walking stick ends where my nose begins to appear because while swinging your walking stick, I am afraid, you might hit my nose.” This is the limitation of your independence.

We also hear people say, “We are celebrating svarajya, Independence Day.” Is it true? No. Here sva means `self.’ Have you mastered yourself? Do you have control over your senses? Usually svatantra means becoming independent of foreign rule. You break the chains of slavery under the yoke of the rulers and declare independence. This is political independence. This is not enough.

Spiritually also you should be independent by controlling your senses, conquering your weaknesses and checking your evil tendencies. This is independence in the kingdom of atma. You become truly independent only after you have conquered desire, lust, greed, anger, hatred, avarice, sense of vengeance, etc. You have to understand the meaning of svatantra in this sense.

Question: Swami, modern youth, in the name of generation gap, are not prepared to pay heed to their elders. Advise and give us your message.

Bhagavan: This is meaningless. What are the changes you notice in the name of generation gap? The sun rises only in the east and never in the west. There is no change in the laws of nature. Don’t you feed the same stomach every day? Don’t you wash the same face every day? Don’t you clean the same utensils every day? Don’t you wear the same clothes? So, all important things need to be done time and again. In the name of generation gap you should not neglect doing things that need to be repeated.

You shouldn’t turn a deaf ear to the advice of your elders branding them as senile, old hags. No. They are persons with rich experience. They are your well wishers. You must listen to them, obey and follow their instructions. The modern generation is not prepared to listen to the elders. It is foolishness and utter ignorance to brush aside all that the elders say. It amounts to pride and egotism. You will be ultimately ruining yourself if you don’t follow the valuable advice of elders.