Freedom is priceless, isn't it.
07.29.08 (1:42 pm) [edit]
I read a quote the other day that stated that “freedom was priceless.” I thought to myself and I figured out that based on our society’s current mindset, that statement could be agreed with and debated at the same time.
Freedom has been defined as, a state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses, without being subject to any undue restraints or restrictions. By measuring your current situation to this definition, are you experiencing freedom, and if so, at what cost did you obtain this freedom?
It has been said that the state of being free can not be summed to equal a certain monetary value. Feeling free is a glorious feeling but is that same freedom actually priceless? I am sure we have all heard of people paying a deep pocketed price for freedom. People have died and been tried for freedom.
The dictionary defines priceless as something that is impossible to put value on or worth more than can be calculated in terms of money. How can freedom be priceless when we function with the perceived notion that we must pay for it? Mental, emotional, physical and even spiritual freedom seem like they come with a price tag in most situations. I have witnessed people pay a pretty penny for physical freedom. Some people live under the assumption that they must pay for spiritual freedom or they will suffer in the afterlife. Counselors charge by the hour for what some think is a process of gaining mental and psychological freedom. The divorce rate is fifty percent and the course of action is not free either, emotionally freedom is sought at a cost. We continue to seek outside of ourselves to buy our misguided conception of freedom at any expenditure.
Some of us are hostages of our egotistical minds. We envy the people whom have more than us because we think they exist with more opportunities to obtain freedom than we do. Often we validate ourselves according to what we have. We measure ourselves by our assets or lack there of. We calculate our happiness according to what we have done in our careers, our schooling and etc. We think that we are not complete if we do not have a mate and we settle for less than what we deserve. Is that freedom?
To some of us even happiness comes at an expense. Do you ever find yourself saying these statements? I will be happy when…or if I had this…I would be ok. We are not satisfied until we have a particular type of an automobile or a certain sized house. I am not stating that obtaining these things is wrong but what is stopping us from being joyous right now? When you think about that, ask yourself if you primarily find happiness in tangible objects or even in other people. We expect people to love us unconditionally but we are so conditional when it comes to ourselves. Why does something have to occur for us to be pleased? Why don’t we live in the moment? Why are things so important to us? Do we forget that our Creator just wants us to be happy? Do we put man’s opinions before God’s?
How can we free ourselves from the emotional and egotistical bondage of your minds? Let’s expand the way we think about ourselves and our situations. Let us begin by opening our minds and our hearts to the priceless thoughts and admiration of the Universe. Let’s measure ourselves by the breath that we breathe and the love that we give. Can we remind ourselves that we were made in the image of the Divine and therefore we are a value that is beyond price? Let’s come into contact with the Spiritual us who is perfect, loving, beautiful and magnificent. Let’s grace ourselves with positive and uplifting affirmations. Let us reach within and discover our truest passions. Let us discern the intangible things that add unto our happiness, i.e., the sunrise, the wind blowing on our faces, birds singing, the moonlight, a beautiful skyline, laughter and etc. Let’s free our souls from comparing ourselves to the illusions of the world. Begin with believing and knowing that we create our own reality and therefore we can take control of our destiny. Let’s take responsibility for our delights and make ourselves a priority. Let us stop functioning in the mindset of an ego-led society and unlock the doors of our Spirits! Together we can enjoy the splendors of the Universe! Our discoveries will indeed be invaluable and we will experience a freedom that is indeed priceless.
Embrace this Truth and remind yourself that:
“My Lord does not want to know what I have done for Him. He just wants to know how I am. If he hears from me that I am happy, then he himself becomes exceedingly happy. In unmistakable terms He tells me that my happiness is His real and only Satisfaction.”
Sri Chinmoy
Source: O My Pilot Beloved, by Sri Chinmoy
I leave you the same way that I came, in peace.
Literary Thought
© Copyright 2008
Freedom has been defined as, a state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses, without being subject to any undue restraints or restrictions. By measuring your current situation to this definition, are you experiencing freedom, and if so, at what cost did you obtain this freedom?
It has been said that the state of being free can not be summed to equal a certain monetary value. Feeling free is a glorious feeling but is that same freedom actually priceless? I am sure we have all heard of people paying a deep pocketed price for freedom. People have died and been tried for freedom.
The dictionary defines priceless as something that is impossible to put value on or worth more than can be calculated in terms of money. How can freedom be priceless when we function with the perceived notion that we must pay for it? Mental, emotional, physical and even spiritual freedom seem like they come with a price tag in most situations. I have witnessed people pay a pretty penny for physical freedom. Some people live under the assumption that they must pay for spiritual freedom or they will suffer in the afterlife. Counselors charge by the hour for what some think is a process of gaining mental and psychological freedom. The divorce rate is fifty percent and the course of action is not free either, emotionally freedom is sought at a cost. We continue to seek outside of ourselves to buy our misguided conception of freedom at any expenditure.
Some of us are hostages of our egotistical minds. We envy the people whom have more than us because we think they exist with more opportunities to obtain freedom than we do. Often we validate ourselves according to what we have. We measure ourselves by our assets or lack there of. We calculate our happiness according to what we have done in our careers, our schooling and etc. We think that we are not complete if we do not have a mate and we settle for less than what we deserve. Is that freedom?
To some of us even happiness comes at an expense. Do you ever find yourself saying these statements? I will be happy when…or if I had this…I would be ok. We are not satisfied until we have a particular type of an automobile or a certain sized house. I am not stating that obtaining these things is wrong but what is stopping us from being joyous right now? When you think about that, ask yourself if you primarily find happiness in tangible objects or even in other people. We expect people to love us unconditionally but we are so conditional when it comes to ourselves. Why does something have to occur for us to be pleased? Why don’t we live in the moment? Why are things so important to us? Do we forget that our Creator just wants us to be happy? Do we put man’s opinions before God’s?
How can we free ourselves from the emotional and egotistical bondage of your minds? Let’s expand the way we think about ourselves and our situations. Let us begin by opening our minds and our hearts to the priceless thoughts and admiration of the Universe. Let’s measure ourselves by the breath that we breathe and the love that we give. Can we remind ourselves that we were made in the image of the Divine and therefore we are a value that is beyond price? Let’s come into contact with the Spiritual us who is perfect, loving, beautiful and magnificent. Let’s grace ourselves with positive and uplifting affirmations. Let us reach within and discover our truest passions. Let us discern the intangible things that add unto our happiness, i.e., the sunrise, the wind blowing on our faces, birds singing, the moonlight, a beautiful skyline, laughter and etc. Let’s free our souls from comparing ourselves to the illusions of the world. Begin with believing and knowing that we create our own reality and therefore we can take control of our destiny. Let’s take responsibility for our delights and make ourselves a priority. Let us stop functioning in the mindset of an ego-led society and unlock the doors of our Spirits! Together we can enjoy the splendors of the Universe! Our discoveries will indeed be invaluable and we will experience a freedom that is indeed priceless.
Embrace this Truth and remind yourself that:
“My Lord does not want to know what I have done for Him. He just wants to know how I am. If he hears from me that I am happy, then he himself becomes exceedingly happy. In unmistakable terms He tells me that my happiness is His real and only Satisfaction.”
Sri Chinmoy
Source: O My Pilot Beloved, by Sri Chinmoy
I leave you the same way that I came, in peace.
Literary Thought
© Copyright 2008
Sin City
07.03.08 (8:04 am) [edit]
Mountain peaks reach the tip of the atmosphere
Sky lines of glory
Precious stones
Scorching summer breezes
Cool nightsLuminous lights
Constant chatter
Interchangeable space
There is more to Las Vegas…
I love this city but in all honesty she has done absolutely nothing for me and you know what; I never expected her to. I knew it was up to me, ya dig? It was by being here that I was pushed to grow, learn and remember who I am. Like everyone else, I forgot.
I was born in the city but raised in the country. I have experienced the best of both atmospheres. I have come to know the fastness of the metropolis pace and I have discovered how to appreciate the slow crawl of the countryside.
This town can never be duplicated. At the same time it is both city and what I will call confederate, both speedy and sluggish, both sophisticated and thuggish, both smooth and rugged.
So I had to send a shout out to the city of what we refer to as just Vegas. Leaving this place will allow me to prosper plenty but as I think back, there is nothing like Sin City.
Copyright 2008
Literary Thought