How does one TRULY become free?

Question

Tell me what you think, and what you know...
I am having trouble in deciding what true freedom is. It seems I am on a quest to find something that doesn't really exist in this world. Is freedom just something that humans wish for, that we want to be true? Or is it actually attainable?

Answer 1

The only way to be truly free is to own nothing. Once you own stuff, you become a slave to your possessions. You have to take care of them. Clean them, protect them, maintain them, worry about them. The less you own, the closer to true freedom you will be.

Since humans have needs, that means we own stuff, though, so we can never truly be free.

Answer 2

I sometimes define 'freedom' as the gap in time between when a desire first manifests and that desire is satiated. By this definition, freedom is very dependant on the kind of desire and the amount of power you possess.

For example, suppose you wanted to pick your nose. In most circumstances that's not a problem - the gap is almost nonexistant. However even here we can imagine some people who have no fingers (or nose!) and thus lack power, and those who are in circumstances (at the office) where they feel that they cannot and thus lack as much freedom.

Or suppose you wanted to move somewhere. If you are a medieval serf, you may long all your life to do this and never accumulate enough power to do so. Today, you might need to save up some money, perhaps make some arrangements for an apartment or something, so it might take you a month or two. If you were a megamillionaire, you could probably have one or your 'people' acquire a house and have it furnished for you by the time you arrived in an hour.

If your desire is to fly through the air on your own power, then no amount of terrestrial power right now is likely to be able to grant you this. Everybody has an indefinite gap. But maybe some aliens could pull it off, or a god could float merrily along, should the desire manifest.

It is worth nothing that by this definition the ONLY way to be COMPLETELY free is to be omipotent. So don't hold your breath on that one. ( :

Answer 3

I don't know if it is attainable with the way society and life are now but I do believe if the other problems that plague the world were solved then freedom would take very little effort to achieve. I don't currently believe true freedom is available just a better version of demands/responsibilities depending on the country you live in. Obviously third world countries have very little if any freedom. I think you can find a measure of freedom more than typical. That said unless you know how to survive off the land you can't really get away from needing a job which of course takes away a certain degree of freedom of time but if you find a job you love, learn to relax, be yourself/love yourself, keep as many toxic people out of your life as possible and live the moment as much as possible then you can get closer to freedom than most people get

Answer 4

What a fascinating question. Thank you. Yes, I believe we can achieve freedom, but ironically, within limits. True freedom is in the mind. We are bounded by the finite limitations of our human existence. Illness, accidents, economics, politics, gender: the limits on us are very real and very physical, so thinking we can attain liberation from the pragmatic parameters of life is an illusion. However, in our minds, in our spirits, we can find such a sense of inner peace and such a level of awareness that we are set free, even if we remain tied to our physical selves. As a Zen practitioner I believe this very strongly and invite you to learn more in your local Buddhist/Zen community. Freedom is possible. Englightenment is real. Joy is your birthright.

Answer 5

The Jade,,, I never have been able to answer questions with the ease that you did in just those few words. You are absolutely correct. There are so many people out there who, out of fear, don't know how to just say no. Situations arise for these people that sometimes they find they can't get out of. Very harmful ones. Your are so on the level with your response. When we humans can come to a comfortable place in our lives, and learn to not be afraid anymore, we in essence become free. To add a little to just say no, I would have to say that holding the hand of the Lord, makes freedom possible always. When the time comes for our judgement, we can say no to the followers of Satan, and be set free by God's love.
Thank you to the asker for provoking such an awesome discussion. Hopefully all of us together, can rest as ease that we have helped someone today. God Bless!!!!

Answer 6

To understand freedom, we must understand slavery. We become slaves to our unsatisfied wants. True freedom comes when we no longer want. When we discover the place where all our real needs are met, all insecurities and fears vanish. Such a place of perfect love is only found at the cross - where the Son sets us free indeed (John 8:36). Yes, it is attainable through faith in this life.

Answer 7

1. Watch the movie 'John Doe', with Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper. Freedom is addressed.

2. I believe that 'Freedom' implies lack of accountability. Everyone has it somewhere at varying times (i.e. free time, free license to make a creative decision, free to choose, etc.). There are many scenarios.

3. Accountability, like freedom, is on the opposite side of the scale. The key to playing a good game of life is to keep them in balance.

Good Luck and Warm Regards.

Answer 8

it depends on your definition of freedom.
the freedom to do anything that you want is not freedom but chaos .that may mean the freedom to curtail someone else's freedom, what if someone else want the freedom to beat you up?? so i think that freedom is not absolute and with the right to freedom comes the responsibility of having it within the framework of social and legal limits or laws.
then there's the freedom to be yourself, where it's a state of mind . that's attainable providing that you don't hurt anybody else or encroach on anybody else's freedom, hey!! it your life, you decide, just remember everything has it's price and it's consequences.
God bless,
gabe

Answer 9

True freedom is attained by union with God.

Without that union, we are bound by the necessities of a human nature that wants to do its own thing (even against our will or better judgment), while imagining ourselves to be free.




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Answer 10

You are right it does not exist.
Yes your are right in thinking that
it is something that humans wish for.

Let me explain form the day that you were
conceived to the day that you die,

You are governed by The Laws of Nature
and by The Laws Made by Man
and anything you say ,think or do
must be within these Laws or you are in trouble.