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What is "Freedom"? I often hear it used, but clearly there are many ideas of what it means:

Here are 10 different definitions or views of freedom:

1. **Political Freedom**: The absence of oppression or coercion by authorities, allowing individuals the right to participate in democratic governance, free speech, and decision-making without fear of retaliation.

2. **Personal Freedom**: The ability to make choices about one’s own life, behaviour, and actions without interference from others, encompassing lifestyle choices, beliefs, and relationships.

3. **Philosophical Freedom**: In existentialism, freedom is often seen as the recognition of the human condition where individuals are free to make their own choices, but also bear the full responsibility for those choices.

4. **Economic Freedom**: The ability to control one’s economic life, including the right to own property, earn a living, and pursue wealth without unnecessary restrictions from the government or monopolies.

5. **Psychological Freedom**: A state of mind where an individual feels liberated from fear, guilt, or inner conflict, allowing them to live authentically and true to their own desires.

6. **Religious Freedom**: The right to follow one's own religious beliefs, practices, or to not follow any religion at all, without fear of persecution or discrimination.

7. **Social Freedom**: The capacity to live without social restrictions imposed by cultural, societal, or peer pressures, allowing individuals to defy norms and conventions to express their identity.

8. **Freedom as Self-Determination**: The ability of a person or group to determine their own destiny without external control, particularly regarding national or ethnic sovereignty.

9. **Legal Freedom**: The protection of civil rights through law, ensuring that individuals are free from arbitrary detention, forced labour, and can enjoy personal security and the right to a fair trial.

10. **Creative Freedom**: The right to express oneself artistically or intellectually without censorship or the constraints imposed by societal or market demands, fostering innovation and originality.

These views show that freedom is multifaceted, touching on individual rights, collective identities, and personal philosophies. But in each case, we are still trapped within our bodies and our situation. We can't get away from that. So what kind of freedom transcends those limitations? For me, freedom is when I only have "Needs" and no "Wants". Wants trap each one of us and keep us on the treadmill and without true freedom, just to be.

1. **Wants vs. Needs**: The distinction between wants and needs is fundamental. Needs are essential for survival—like food, water, shelter, and safety. Wants, on the other hand, are desires that go beyond the essentials, such as luxury, status, or convenience. According to this view, as long as we are driven by wants, we are enslaved by desires, which keep us in a state of constant pursuit rather than contentment.

2. **Desire as a Source of Bondage**: Many philosophical and spiritual traditions, such as Buddhism, teach that desires (wants) are the root of human suffering. The more we want, the more we are bound by those desires, chasing after things that may never bring lasting satisfaction. In this sense, freedom is seen as liberation from the endless cycle of wanting.

3. **Psychological and Emotional Dependence**: Wants can create a sense of dependency. For example, wanting social approval, success, or material goods can drive behaviour, leading to stress, dissatisfaction, and frustration when those desires are not met. This dependence on external validation or material gain can limit an individual's sense of freedom, as they are constantly tethered to external sources of fulfilment.

4. **Contentment and Freedom**: If freedom is viewed as the absence of constraint, then being driven by wants can be seen as a form of self-imposed constraint. Wants often lead to attachment, which can prevent a person from experiencing true inner freedom. Needs, on the other hand, are basic and finite, and once they are met, they allow for a simpler, more grounded existence. This can bring a sense of liberation, as one is no longer pursuing endless desires but living in a state of contentment.

5. **Materialism and Consumerism**: Modern consumer culture often amplifies wants by creating artificial desires through marketing and social pressures. In such a society, freedom might be seen as impossible because individuals are conditioned to constantly crave more, whether it's the latest technology, fashion, or experiences. The endless cycle of consumption can be a form of enslavement to desires, limiting one's ability to experience true freedom.

6. **Self-Mastery**: In this view, true freedom requires mastery over one's wants, learning to distinguish between what is necessary for a fulfilling life and what is merely a distraction. To live free, one must transcend superficial desires and focus on needs that support well-being and personal growth.

7. **Minimalism and Simplicity**: Some philosophies advocate for minimalist living as a path to freedom. By reducing wants and focusing on essential needs, individuals can experience greater autonomy and peace of mind. The fewer material and emotional wants one has, the less they are controlled by external forces, creating more space for self-determination.

8. **Wants as a Source of Ambition and Innovation**: On the other hand, some may argue that wants, when balanced, are not inherently negative. They can drive ambition, creativity, and progress. However, unchecked, they can lead to dissatisfaction and distraction, keeping a person from focusing on their true purpose or living authentically.

In this interpretation, the concept of freedom is closely tied to self-restraint and the ability to be content with having one's needs met. Only when one overcomes the compulsive pursuit of wants can they be truly free from both external and internal forces that limit their autonomy and peace.

The idea that true freedom comes from transcending desires and focusing on needs aligns closely with the teachings of many great spiritual teachers throughout history. Each of these figures, in their own way, spoke of liberation from the bondage of desire, ego, and attachment, emphasizing simplicity, contentment, and inner peace. Here's how their teachings resonate with the notion of freedom through detachment from wants:

Here’s a list of spiritual teachers and their points of view briefly encapsulated:

### 1. **Lao Tzu (c. 6th Century BC)**
- Teachings: Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism, emphasized living in harmony with the Tao (the Way) and letting go of desires and ambitions. He taught that simplicity and non-attachment lead to a natural state of freedom and peace.
- Relevant View: "Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires." Lao Tzu believed that excessive desires disrupt the natural flow of life. True freedom comes from living in accordance with the Tao, without striving for more than what is essential.

### 2. **Prophet Isiah (c. 740 - 681 BC)**
- Teachings: He expounds the idea of spiritual freedom through detachment from worldly desires. Isaiah emphasizes that inner peace and liberation come from turning toward God and practicing justice, humility, and righteousness. He calls for repentance and a focus on spiritual values rather than material wealth or power.
- Relevant View: "Isaiah 55:2 reflects this: “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.” Isaiah’s prophecies called for the people of Israel to turn away from their reliance on wealth, power, and idols and instead seek spiritual renewal through their relationship with God.

### 3. **Buddha (c. 563/480 – c. 483/400 BC)**
- Teachings: Buddha's entire path to enlightenment, as outlined in the Four Noble Truths, centers on the idea that desire (tanha) is the root of suffering. He taught that by overcoming attachment to desires, one can achieve Nirvana, the ultimate state of freedom from suffering.
- Relevant View: "Desire is the cause of all suffering." For Buddha, the cessation of desire leads to liberation (moksha), and true freedom is found in detachment from material and emotional cravings.###

4. **Socrates (c. 470 - 399 BC)**
- Teachings: Socrates focused on the importance of self-knowledge and the pursuit of virtue. He believed that true freedom comes from understanding oneself, constantly questioning one’s desires and beliefs to live an examined life. For Socrates, ignorance and unchecked desires enslave the individual, while wisdom and virtue lead to inner freedom.
- Relevant View: "The unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates taught that freedom is achieved through self-awareness, intellectual humility, and a commitment to moral integrity.

### 5. **Jesus Christ (c. 4 BC – 30/33 AD)**
- Teachings: Jesus often emphasized detachment from material wealth and earthly desires. In his teachings, he pointed out the futility of accumulating riches on earth and urged people to focus on spiritual treasures.
- Relevant View: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-20). Jesus taught that true freedom comes from reliance on God and detachment from worldly desires, which bind people to temporary and unfulfilling pursuits.

### 6. **Prophet Mohammed (c. 570–632 AD)**
- Teachings: Prophet Mohammed taught that true freedom comes from submission to the will of God and living in a state of gratitude and contentment with what one has. He warned against excessive desires and materialism, emphasizing spiritual devotion and self-restraint.
- Relevant View: "Richness is not having many possessions, but richness is being content with oneself." Mohammed’s teachings focus on the idea that attachment to desires leads to suffering, while contentment and reliance on God bring true freedom.

### 7. **Guru Nanak (1469–1539)**
- Teachings: Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, taught that freedom comes from realizing the oneness of all beings and living a life of service, humility, and devotion to God. He emphasized detachment from materialism and ego, urging his followers to meditate and live a simple, honest life.
- Relevant View: "He who has no faith in himself can never have faith in God." Guru Nanak’s teachings highlight the importance of inner strength, humility, and self-realization as the path to true freedom.

### 8. **Kabir (1440–1518)**
- Teachings: Kabir, a poet-saint of India, spoke against religious formalism and material attachments, focusing instead on the inner spiritual experience. He emphasized living a simple life and criticized the endless pursuit of desires.
- Relevant View: "He who is in search of God must overcome desire and live a simple life." Kabir's teachings align with the idea that wants, rooted in materialism and ego, are obstacles to realizing true spiritual freedom.

### 9. **Rumi (1207–1273)**
- Teachings: Rumi's poetry often touches on the idea of freeing oneself from worldly desires and attachments to reach divine love and union with the infinite. He encourages surrendering the ego and its wants to attain spiritual freedom.
- Relevant View: "When you let go of who you are, you become who you might be." For Rumi, freedom lies in the transcendence of material desires, moving toward a deeper connection with love and the divine, which is free from the constraints of the ego's wants.

### 10. **Ramakrishna (1836–1886)**
- Teachings: Ramakrishna, a revered mystic, spoke of the importance of renouncing worldly desires to experience divine bliss. He taught that attachment to worldly objects and desires leads to suffering, and only by transcending them can one find peace.
- Relevant View: "The mind steeped in worldliness may be compared to a wet matchstick. You cannot light a fire with it, however much you may try." For Ramakrishna, freedom came from simplicity and single-minded devotion to God, free from the pull of worldly wants.

### 11. **Prem Rawat (1957–present)**
- Teachings: Prem Rawat emphasizes the importance of inner peace, urging individuals to seek fulfillment within themselves rather than through material success or external achievements. His teachings resonate with the idea that freedom is an internal experience that comes through self-awareness and understanding one's true needs.
- Relevant View: "Peace begins with you." For Prem Rawat, true freedom is about realizing and experiencing the joy and peace that lie within, independent of external desires.

Common Themes Across These Teachers:

1. Transcendence of Desires: All these teachers emphasize that wants—particularly material desires and ego-driven ambitions—lead to suffering and bondage. To be truly free, one must transcend these desires.

2. Simplicity and Contentment: Each teacher advocates for a life of simplicity, where needs are met, but desires are minimized. This simplicity allows for deeper spiritual realization and inner peace.

3. Focus on the Divine or Inner Peace: Whether through devotion to God (Jesus, Ramakrishna, Mohammed, Guru Nanak), the Tao (Lao Tzu), or the inner self (Buddha, Kabir, Prem Rawat), the path to freedom involves turning away from worldly distractions and focusing on a higher or deeper truth.

4. Detachment: The common thread in their teachings is that attachment to desires keeps one from true liberation. Letting go of these attachments is key to experiencing real freedom, whether it's in this life or in a spiritual sense.

This wisdom points to the same core message: as long as humans are driven by wants, they remain trapped in a cycle of seeking and suffering. True freedom, as these teachers suggest, is found in letting go of those desires and embracing simplicity, contentment, and spiritual awareness. To me, that represents Freedom: Freedom from Desire of wordly things.