My Guru, Swami Satyananda stated that freedom was living in the present moment. He said that it was important to be present without being influenced or entrapped in the past or future.
It happens in little steps by being conscious of one’s actions and not being swept away by the fluctuations of the mind.
Examine what Leo Tolstoy wrote.
You say: I am not free. But I have raised and lowered my arm. Everyone understands that this illogical answer is an irrefutable proof of freedom.
What does one understand from this? How is one being influenced? One is conditioned to think in a certain way. Therefore, one has to apply common sense and question beliefs. Then one becomes free from internal constraints and one’s positive qualities and experiences blossom.
Freedom means the condition or right of being able or allowed to do, say think, etc., whatever you want to, without being controlled or limited.
What does it mean? We are speaking about freedom in the mind. How does it come?
Swami Satyananda’s perspective on freedom emphasizes liberation from internal limitations and conditioning. He viewed freedom as the ultimate experience of life, attainable through the practice of Yoga and self-awareness.
Freedom is a state of mind when one can live without self-judgment, becoming neutral and not allowing one’s inner prejudices, limitations like desires, fears and ego to affect one. Self-awareness leads to not being caught in the web of thoughts and allowing the past to influence one’s judgement.
Lastly Swamiji believed that Asana, Pranayama and Meditation when practiced with awareness, quietened the mind and enabled one to become free.
How does this happen?
One engages in the sadhana with awareness, detachment and concentration. Three things are happening here.
- One is aware that one is performing the asana
- One is detached because one is self- visualizing and neutral.
- One is aware of one’s breath and one is counting one’s breath.
The same occurs with the pranayama. Lastly the meditation practice works on pratyahara. All this leads one to attain freedom.
Daily Sadhana will make you, dear ones free and fearless.
Aim Hrim Klim