Today is India's Independence Day. Freedom and independence are the most fundamental prerequisites for growth and exploration. A slave can't decide his priorities. Similarly, a dependent person is often exploited by the person to whom they are dependent. The freedom we enjoy today is a result of the extraordinary sacrifices of many freedom fighters. It could happen when a few realized the value of freedom, and it was in fact so valuable to them that they were not afraid to risk their lives to get it back. There were many, even in that era, who believed in "chalta hai".
Why does this "chalta hai" attitude get ingrained in our psyche? Why don't we act when we see people littering on the roads? Because cleanliness is not dear to us, and that's why "chalta hai". Why don't we act when we are in the midst of a discussion and someone hijacks the discussion and speaks rubbish? It is because we do not value time, and that's why "chalta hai". This "chalta hai" type of compromise is almost everywhere. Do we realize that this "chalta hai" attitude takes us towards slavery? If we do not take charge of our lives, somebody else will take command, and we will be slaves. If we are unable to decide our priorities, somebody else will decide, and we will be slaves.
But why are we unable to decide? Because we are not clear. Clarity comes with awareness. We need to know our true nature. If our thought process is driven by conditioning, we will, of course, be confused due to the cross-currents of influences. Whenever there is a function in our family and several relatives gather, we often notice that there are conflicting opinions about the rituals, and the person who has to perform the rituals often gets confused. There are cross-currents, and finally, he has to decide. If he is not aware, he will end up following the most vocal voice. That's what happens almost every day with us. We follow the most vocal voices. Awareness demands effort, while "following" the most vocal voice is easy. We choose the easy path. Slowly and gradually, we lose the capacity to examine and choose, and become slaves.
Fighting for freedom is never comfortable. Choosing "chalta hai" is always easy. While "chalta hai" is driven by greed for comforts and pleasures, freedom is our true nature. It's natural for the trees to grow when they are planted in the soil. They are not growing due to greed. On the other hand, if they are not exposed to the sunlight and the wind, they will not grow or die down. They have to fight the winds and grow. We may give all the comforts and pleasures to a mango plant in a pot on our balcony, but that will never grow. We may give it the best fertilizer and water every day and take care of it, even keep it in an AC, but it will not grow into a tree. It will grow when it is planted in a field or garden where it will have freedom to grow. Then it will intuitively face the winds and make its own food and even produce mangoes. We may choose comforts and pleasures and confine our growth opportunities like a bonsai. But if that bonsai just peeps out of the balcony, and looks at the tree, it will naturally feel how insulting and stupid to exercise the choice for comforts and pleasures, and what has he given away as a result of such a choice. I wish awareness to all of us so that we do not choose slavery of comforts and pleasures.
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