Do you know that the month of August is also known as the National Month? This is because 31st August is our National Day and usually its celebration starts from the beginning of August with various programs and national competitions. It is done to commemorate the day when our country gained its FREEDOM from the British colonial administration more than sixty years ago. So, let’s take time this month to reflect on freedom and what it means to us.

The topic of freedom is everywhere – many people talk about freedom, demand freedom, struggle for freedom and even fight for freedom. This shows that people desire freedom and many haven’t found it yet. Lack of freedom is definitely one source of a great deal of suffering or dukkha.

Mankind aspire to freedom, but the concept itself has many different meanings, depending on where one is standing and his angle of perspective. Here are some examples of what freedom means to some people.

  • Freedom means having the power, the inherent right, the capacity and the ability to govern our own country
  • Freedom means having the opportunity to vote for particular ideas or people who best represent our views
  • Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be
  • Freedom means that I can choose to dress and express myself as I wish
  • Freedom means loving all people and remembering that we are all one
  • Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better
  • Freedom means living life in alignment with my highest self and not caring what others think about it
  • Freedom is releasing the desire to be perfect, so that I can be happy with what is
  • Freedom is having no emotional blockages
  • Freedom is the state of free from fear

  • Do any of the examples resonate with you? Or do you have other meaning to freedom? To most people, freedom means the right to act, speak or think as one wants. It is a state of being free from restrictions – freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the list goes on. WHAT DOES FREEDOM MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY? Give it a thought and let us know in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you.

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