FREEDOM & DISCIPLINE
Freedom and discipline are opposites. And they are also complementary. The purpose of defence is to protect freedom. But is there freedom in defence? Do soldiers have freedom? No, they are bound, not allowed to put the right foot when told to put the left foot down. Their steps are measured and they are unable to even walk with a natural rhythm. There is no freedom in defence. Yet this is what protects the freedom of a country! Freedom without discipline is like a country without a defence. Discipline protects freedom. They go hand in hand. Understand this and move ahead in life. You have certain restrictions that allow you your freedom. You can focus either on freedom or discipline, and be happy or unhappy.
Nature itself induces fear in a child at a certain age. A child has no fear when very young; he gets 100% love and attention from the mother. But as he grows more independent, nature brings in an iota of fear; he learns to become cautious. With increasing freedom, the child learns to walk more carefully.
There is a state of absolute freedom, unlimited bliss, the freedom Advaitatalks about. But the AdvaitaKnowledge has been totally misused according to people’s fancies and conveniences. We need to be very practical. There must be freedom in the mind, love in the heart, and discipline in action.
Fear of losing freedom brings discipline and defence. And the purpose of defence is to eliminate fear. On this path, knowledge is your freedom and also your defence. People who are free regret that they do not have discipline. They keep promising that they will become disciplined. People who are disciplined look for the end; discipline is not an end in itself, it is a means. Look at people who have no discipline; they are miserable. Freedom without discipline is absolute misery. Discipline without freedom is suffocating. Orderliness is monotonous and chaos is stressful. We must make our discipline free and our freedom disciplined. People who have company all the time, look for the comforts of solitude. People who are in solitude feel so lonely and want company. People in a cold place want a warm place. People in a warm place love something cool. This is the dilemma of life: everyone is looking for perfect balance. Perfect balance is like a razor’s edge. It can only be found in the Self.