Search within, you may find the world lying there....
Monday, August 24, 2009
The paradox
He had finally found it out. What he was to do was very clear to him now. No more confusions. The door had opened. His mind was freed. He was then led past a door wrought of Iron, the banner on which was written "Prison".
At some level i really do believe that to be free is to view everything from a dispassionate viewpoint and play both (or all) sides of the argument before accepting a particular thing. But at some level your point also makes a lot of sense. Thanks
Nice one! Before TUIB responded, I didn't think of what was in his mind to be freedom. But yes, your tags did tell me it was about solitude.
Practically speaking (not required in posts labeled 'mystic', though! ;) ), problems in prisons are not only about solitude!
Freedom--the definition, well what surprises me is why both of you've totally skirted the most obvious aspect of freedom, viz., doing what we would like to do. For me personally, what thoughts enter our mind, and what conclusions we draw from data available never suffers from a lack of freedom. Rather, at least no external agency has a control over them. And my desire to know the truth would always ensure that I don't cheat myself, so I couldn't particularly relate with the idea of freedom being equivalent to being allowed to draw our conclusions logically, except for of course, if you're hinting at restrictions on our thoughts imposed by our own prejudices, and irreconcilable desires that'd be at odds with the absolute truth (assuming such a thing to be existent). But somehow, I've not felt that to be a problem with me ('me' as in Ketan Panchal, and not MSP! ;) ). :)
The detachment you're talking of, certainly, is freedom in the highest and purest sense, but it is a static kind of freedom, it's not kinetic--it won't inspire/allow you to do anything, rather, quite the opposite, it's anti-life, anti-motion, anti-desire, anti-existence. Or rather, the truth you're hinting at here, and if I get it right, even in your post--'A Cosmic Take on Life', is so independent that it doesn't require to be 'anti'-so many things to justify its nature. In simple words, though that truth is the ultimate form of liberation, whether we like it or not! :)
This work was even better than a 55er, with much fewer words! Have you read my 55ers (click)? Most of them are just literary experiments in brevity--nothing very revealing about myself.
Ketan i ll actually narrate what i d planned to express in the post. The protagonist had just learned to be free in mind. the kind of freedom that i had described in response to TUIB's comment). He had reconciled himself with life, and was clear as to what he had to do with the time that had been given to him. But as soon as he had been freed (by himself courtesy his own thoughts / experiences / interactions) etc, he is incarcerated (the reason is not specified) by society.
This leads to a lot of paradoxes (as you can imagine) - the ultimate being - He is free in mind, but incarcerated physically. But the fact that he is incarcerated physically does not matter to him anymore as he has been liberated mentally.
To add further, freedom in mind i believe, is a rare phenomenon. Many people are clouded with prejudices, preconceptions etc that prevent them from thinking objectively. Once a person is rid of all these clouds he gets liberated / freed, to a great extent. I have learnt this habit from GSM. He is a mentor to me in a lot of ways.
It s sad that he (GSM) is not writing as often as he did. I do get he is busy. But i already miss interacting with my friend in person, but no interactions at all is very sad. Sir if you have even little bit of time please do blog.
Thanks me, for your vision of the story! It's made it even more beautiful for me!
I loved the authority with which you've urged Saimukundhan to blog! Yes, I envy you for that! I, of course, have not developed that kind of rapport with him to be able to do that!
Do you believe, you do not possess that kind of freedom of mind? If you've been able to acknowledge that such freedom indeed exists, what has been preventing you from embracing it?
The highest kind of freedom I've talked of is the same as what you were trying to tell TUIB.
I allow myself to dwell in that freedom on occasions! Don't be surprised by this dichotomy (double standards!).
I think, for me, the realization that my life has no purpose and significance in the absolute sense is the outcome as well as source of freedom that we've been talking of. It has a constant subconscious presence in my mind. Sometimes, it makes me smile at myself because of the futility of it all, and sometimes, the sense of freedom it brings because of having no fixed agenda in life owing to that fact.
As i had already mentioned The joy of being independent i v learnt from watching GSM in action. Till i met him i actually thought i knew all. First meeting i was shattered. I felt like waking up for the first time or being born afresh. I realised that i had let my mind be prejudiced with a lot of things which i had believed with no reason at all. But i think now i v opened myself up. This post in a way is an ode to that also - My mind being freed by GSM. (One more angle to this post)
And you had talked about Research in the comment on the other post. My respect for me only grows with the knowledge that you are oriented towards research. Most probably i d also be into research in one form or the other in the future. Research is one of things that you fertile ( I think i v used this expression correctly) i believe.
And TUIB i can only say that i am more than happy that my blog makes you think. As long as it drives a positive frame of thought, i would feel proud, coz that is one thing i always strive to do with whomever i meet, one of the few things i actually feel i am bound to do.
What does it mean to be free, one wonders.
ReplyDeleteTo be free is to be able to live with yourself. :)
At some level i really do believe that to be free is to view everything from a dispassionate viewpoint and play both (or all) sides of the argument before accepting a particular thing.
ReplyDeleteBut at some level your point also makes a lot of sense.
Thanks
Play all sides of an argument before accepting a thought..
ReplyDeleteone wud have to be very balanced and logical to be that way..
ur blog always gives me something to think about..:)
me...,
ReplyDeleteNice one! Before TUIB responded, I didn't think of what was in his mind to be freedom. But yes, your tags did tell me it was about solitude.
Practically speaking (not required in posts labeled 'mystic', though! ;) ), problems in prisons are not only about solitude!
Freedom--the definition, well what surprises me is why both of you've totally skirted the most obvious aspect of freedom, viz., doing what we would like to do. For me personally, what thoughts enter our mind, and what conclusions we draw from data available never suffers from a lack of freedom. Rather, at least no external agency has a control over them. And my desire to know the truth would always ensure that I don't cheat myself, so I couldn't particularly relate with the idea of freedom being equivalent to being allowed to draw our conclusions logically, except for of course, if you're hinting at restrictions on our thoughts imposed by our own prejudices, and irreconcilable desires that'd be at odds with the absolute truth (assuming such a thing to be existent). But somehow, I've not felt that to be a problem with me ('me' as in Ketan Panchal, and not MSP! ;) ). :)
The detachment you're talking of, certainly, is freedom in the highest and purest sense, but it is a static kind of freedom, it's not kinetic--it won't inspire/allow you to do anything, rather, quite the opposite, it's anti-life, anti-motion, anti-desire, anti-existence. Or rather, the truth you're hinting at here, and if I get it right, even in your post--'A Cosmic Take on Life', is so independent that it doesn't require to be 'anti'-so many things to justify its nature. In simple words, though that truth is the ultimate form of liberation, whether we like it or not! :)
This work was even better than a 55er, with much fewer words! Have you read my 55ers (click)? Most of them are just literary experiments in brevity--nothing very revealing about myself.
TC.
Ketan i ll actually narrate what i d planned to express in the post.
ReplyDeleteThe protagonist had just learned to be free in mind. the kind of freedom that i had described in response to TUIB's comment). He had reconciled himself with life, and was clear as to what he had to do with the time that had been given to him. But as soon as he had been freed (by himself courtesy his own thoughts / experiences / interactions) etc, he is incarcerated (the reason is not specified) by society.
This leads to a lot of paradoxes (as you can imagine) - the ultimate being - He is free in mind, but incarcerated physically. But the fact that he is incarcerated physically does not matter to him anymore as he has been liberated mentally.
To add further, freedom in mind i believe, is a rare phenomenon. Many people are clouded with prejudices, preconceptions etc that prevent them from thinking objectively. Once a person is rid of all these clouds he gets liberated / freed, to a great extent. I have learnt this habit from GSM. He is a mentor to me in a lot of ways.
ReplyDeleteIt s sad that he (GSM) is not writing as often as he did. I do get he is busy. But i already miss interacting with my friend in person, but no interactions at all is very sad. Sir if you have even little bit of time please do blog.
ReplyDeleteThanks me, for your vision of the story! It's made it even more beautiful for me!
ReplyDeleteI loved the authority with which you've urged Saimukundhan to blog! Yes, I envy you for that! I, of course, have not developed that kind of rapport with him to be able to do that!
Do you believe, you do not possess that kind of freedom of mind? If you've been able to acknowledge that such freedom indeed exists, what has been preventing you from embracing it?
The highest kind of freedom I've talked of is the same as what you were trying to tell TUIB.
I allow myself to dwell in that freedom on occasions! Don't be surprised by this dichotomy (double standards!).
I think, for me, the realization that my life has no purpose and significance in the absolute sense is the outcome as well as source of freedom that we've been talking of. It has a constant subconscious presence in my mind. Sometimes, it makes me smile at myself because of the futility of it all, and sometimes, the sense of freedom it brings because of having no fixed agenda in life owing to that fact.
Thanks!
Take care.
As i had already mentioned The joy of being independent i v learnt from watching GSM in action. Till i met him i actually thought i knew all. First meeting i was shattered. I felt like waking up for the first time or being born afresh. I realised that i had let my mind be prejudiced with a lot of things which i had believed with no reason at all. But i think now i v opened myself up. This post in a way is an ode to that also - My mind being freed by GSM. (One more angle to this post)
ReplyDeleteAnd you had talked about Research in the comment on the other post. My respect for me only grows with the knowledge that you are oriented towards research. Most probably i d also be into research in one form or the other in the future.
Research is one of things that you fertile ( I think i v used this expression correctly) i believe.
And TUIB i can only say that i am more than happy that my blog makes you think. As long as it drives a positive frame of thought, i would feel proud, coz that is one thing i always strive to do with whomever i meet, one of the few things i actually feel i am bound to do.