ESSSENCE OF FREEDOM IN THOUGHT AND ACTION
Freedom is a multifaceted concept. Its meaning is different at different time and space. It means, liberty to think and act without coercion or restriction or restraint, fear or due to outer and inner conflicts. Under duress or under fear, our resolve to transact anything tangibly gets weakened. Freedom from hunger and want too is added to these. Then, we’ve freedom to think and act according to our requirement without restraints. Herein, choice, with some restraints, in thoughts and actions too are taken into account.
One whose actions are fundamentally based on negative emotions act or react irrationally may prove counterproductive ultimately. If given too much freedom of expression or action thereof, an irresponsible person may take this lightly and criticize even the very fundamentals of the country of their origin thus creating unfounded situations and conditions. Therefore, freedom has to be dovetailed with responsibility too.
The freedom of action is independent of inner or outer influences. These influences may be positive or negative. Positive influences, enhance our sphere of influence in the community we are living while negative influences limit the growth and development of the citizens.
FREEDOIM AS SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
According to Vedic perspective, freedom is not defined by what you can do but more so, whether you are going to be free from any reaction to your course of action. If you are not bound by any of your actions, I think that is really a condition of being free to experience freedom.
For experiencing freedom, we’ve to use these freedoms with humility, simplicity and diplomatically. For using these rights logically, we’ve not to be reactive in any way or use our emotions negatively.
When too much freedom or unchecked freedom is granted, then, it proves to be counterproductive. We’ve the example of Prince Dharyodhana (in Great Epic Mahabharta), who enjoyed too much freedom (in thoughts and actions), acted with irresponsibility and was instrumental in unleashing Kauravas and Pandava battle which resulted in deaths and destruction of his entire family. This proves that too much or unfettered freedom could prove to be disastrous not only for the person concerned but also for his nears and dears.
OUR FREEDOMS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE
LIVING WITH DIGNITY BEREFT OF ANY RESTRICTION
In a free society, an individual enjoys personal growth and development with dignity with autonomy of choice and inner liberation. Whatever he/she does or wants to do could be done by him/her under rules codified by the country he/she is living. Herein responsibility and respect for the individual too is important.
THINKING AND ACTING IN ACCORDANCCE WITH OUR CONSCIENCE
When we think and act according to our principle which we cherish. The basic pillar which stands out is while our purity of thoughts and actions are based on freedom bereft of any inner conflicts or outer pressures and are in sync with our conscience.
It has been mentioned in Bhagwad Gita: The wise living entity’s pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust (or intense desire which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.
INNER FREEDOM
Factually, when a thought is originated from the core of our heart, it has finer-prints of ethics and rationality as a cornerstone of positive thought percept. In other words, inner freedom indicates that whatever thought is originated from heart has positive outcome.
FREEDOM & OUTER INFLUENCES
Our experience indicates that when individual thoughts are not based on our freewill then we may or may not act freely. These influences may be adverse circumstances in our family and the society in which we are living and interacting. Here, we’re constrained to change our thought percepts according to our own choice. This may be positive or negative since we do not have control over outer influences vis a vis own thought and the action we contemplate to take but our inability to do so happens.
INTEGRITY IN OUR FREEDOM
When our thoughts and actions are in sync with our unquestionable sincerity and honesty, then, there is no constraint from any quarter. In such a scenario, we’ve freedom of action.
AUTONOMY OF CHOICE
When we’ve freedom to modulate or change our thoughts and actions thereto, then, our freedom to act is not restricted. But this freedom of choice too should be within limit. Care ought to be exercised that our choice of freedom should not come in the way of other citizens.
EQUALITY BEFORE LAW OF LAND
Everybody is given equality before law of land and any transgression done by an individual is dealt with accordingly so that the same is not repeated.
AUTONOMY OF LIVING WITH PERSONAL VALUES
In democratic societies, its citizens have the needed autonomy to living under the rules legislated by the Government with personal values he/she wants to living without let or hindrance.
Aside from the freedoms which every civilized society ensures for its citizens, it is paramount that the citizens follow the rules for its personal growth and development. The Government concerned also ensures its citizens good health, laws are legislated so that the citizens maintain good relationship with fellow beings, the citizens are having freedom to ack out a living for themselves with the profession or career according to their capacity.
With freedom for healthy growth of an individual, there is also the responsibility of the individual to follow certain rules for healthy growth of himself individually and the society as a whole collectively.
Hence, for enjoying freedoms in the form of rights, the individual has to live within the ambit of rules and responsibly follow those rules in letter and spirit.
RESPONSIBILITY WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ACTION
Whatever we speak or act, it should be done with self-examination or introspection since irresponsibility of thought and action leads to undesirable consequences.
PARTICIPATION AND EQUALITY
Freedom of speech should be the guiding force, that is, when one is speaking, he/she should be allowed to speak and then only it should be responded. One way speech has no substance at all would prove to be a meaningless exercise.
INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM
An individual should be allowed to air his/her view without any qualms or restraints. Care should be exercised that others independence is not tempered in any way.
FREEDOM IS INFLUENCED BY SOCIETY
It has been experienced that our freedom of speech is influenced by the society in which we are living. A well-informed society or educated society will have good manners and etiquettes thus will have lasting influence on us; the way we conduct or act. A child brought up in abusive environs will learn the language he is living.
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
There are some countries wherein their citizens are granted freedom expression, freedom to follow his/her faith or belief, religion, freedom to get education an individual needs, freedom to earn his/her living by legitimate means. But these freedoms too have some limits. Nobody should transgress other citizens right. Your autonomy of freedom stops where and when the rights of others follow. Fundamental rights have some restrictions or restraints which citizens have to follow. That is; your freedom stops where my nose starts.
NO FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN AUTOCRATIC SOCIETIES
It has been norm in the autocratic rules or under military ruled states, rulers do not allow even a modicum of freedom to its citizens for their personal growth and development. Whatever ruler opines, the citizens have to follow without let or hindrance otherwise law of land will award punishment, as per rules codified by the ruler. No immunity is given under any circumstance. In this sort of society, personal growth in education, earning wealth or following his/her religion too are restricted. That powers of individual freedom for growth in many spheres of life are curtailed or restricted.[A1] [A2] [A3]
FREEDOM FROM WANT
While living in a civilized society, it is essential that its needs are fulfilled. These essential needs are the food and shelter security, security of its citizens from internal and external aggressions. When there is a need to provide food security to people living under duress or living below poverty line, this community is given free ration. This sort of security is being provided to people through ration cards etc. by Govt of India.
FREEDOM OF LIVING WITHOUT FEAR AND WITH DIGNITY
It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure the security of its citizens from internal or external aggression. Herein, laws are legislated to ensure that its citizens live without fear in the country they are living.
FREEDOM TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE & ACK OUT A LIVING
Every citizen is free to seek its personal growth in education according to his/her capacity and there is no hindrance or restriction. Also, a person, in free society can ack out a living for himself and his family within the ambit of laws codified without restrictions.
MISREPRESENDING OR MISUNDERSTANDING OF FREEDOM
When we are not able to understand or misrepresent or misinterpret the exact meaning of the constitutional provisions of fundamental rights of freedom, then, some of us may use these rights wrongly. By so doing, such people may take undue advantage of these rights. Hence, every right of freedom should have responsibility to use these in right spirit.
POLISHED LANGUAGE OUGHT TO BE USED WHILE PROFESSING OUR RIGHTS OF SELF EXPRESSION
It is a fact that freedom of speech or expression with other freedoms are necessary for a healthy growth of a society but this hardly means that we have unlimited freedom to criticize everything under the sun. For self –expression to be value–based, it is necessary that no foul language or blunt language or undemocratic language should be used to browbeat fellow citizens. Therefore, diplomatic language, with some restraints, when and where needed should be used to convey our viewpoints logically.
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