Theos-Talk Archives (March 2006 Message tt00653)

Excerpt from Rohit Mehta's article: What is freedom?

The lack of freedom which man experiences in outer circumstances of 
life is due to the absence of freedom in the inner life of man. What 
is meant by this inner freedom? Obviously, it is a state where mind 
is not tethered to anything. If the mind has created its own vested 
interest, then it is bound to be circumscribed by its sphere of 
influence. A vested interest, whether financial or psychological, is 
always created for the purposes of security. When the mind creates a 
psychological vested interest, it is with the purpose of 
safeguarding its zone of comfort and continuity. The mind that seeks 
security must remain a stranger to freedom, it must accept the 
compulsions of its own vested interest. The joy of creative living 
cannot be comprehended by such a mind. … Now, when does one feel the 
compulsion of life? Surely, this feeling of compulsion arises only 
when the mind has arrived at some conclusion. Now, a mind that 
approaches life with a prior conclusion is no longer open. It is a 
closed mind. In fact, a mind that is open feels no compulsions as it 
has no prior conclusions; it is free from all conflicts.