Be Happy – Maintain Balance in Freedom

We are aware that metals are good conductors of electricity and heat whereas non-metals are bad conductors. Although electrons constitute a major component of both, the nature of these particles makes the difference. In non-metals we find that the electrons are not free, but in metals there are both free and non-free (bound) electrons. The free electrons are responsible for most of the distinguishing properties of metals.

Likewise, there is a great value of freedom in material bodies and our life. If a person is asked to choose between wealth and freedom, a rational man would probably choose the latter. If he does not choose freedom, he can not achieve progress. Factually, the history of civilization is the history of progress from bondage to freedom. Indeed, how much a civilization can achieve the richness depends upon the degree of freedom enjoyed by the people.

If you have got freedom, it shall provide you with positive energy, whereas bondage represents negative energy. Just as we ignite a material particle from a bound to a free state by acquiring energy, a person can acquire freedom from bondage by acquiring education and lose it by losing wisdom. What is the source of this wisdom? Education liberates wisdom. It creates self-confidence, courage, equanimity and fair-play in a person. It releases us from ignorance and paves the way for knowledge. It takes us from darkness to light. It gives hope when we are in distress.

What is freedom and what is bondage? We have to redefine the both terms constructively as many times, freedom is more valuable and sometime, we would wish to remain in bondage. Our freedom is related to our necessities. If our necessities are ignored, we can not enjoy freedom. Anybody can think freely. However, if the society or state imposes some constrains in translating thoughts into action, it may deprive us of our freedom. It is also true that no one is entirely free or wholly bound. Every one of us enjoys some degree of freedom and is bound in some way or other. Just as opposites coexist in nature, we also have both freedom and bondage. Bondage, rather freedom, binds us together, be it in the family, in society or in a larger entity like the country. In a broader sense, there is universal freedom. Bondage resulting from love and affection, gratitude and sense of duty is a virtue. Sometimes we are bound by laws and rules. We accept this as our duty.

It is the bondage among constituents, rather than their freedom, which is responsible for the stability of a material, too. The science of materials can show how leads to extraordinary situations. Freedom of electrons is conductivity in metals. However, if this freedom results from bondage, then it can give rise to superconductivity of infinite current. Superconductivity sets in when two free electrons of certain opposite quantum characteristics bind together.

The relationship between freedom and bondage can be scientifically understood within the uncertainly principle of quantum theory, which states that confinement increases kinetic energy. For example, if we wish to locate an electron by using the particle of light-photon, as a probe, it hits the electron, which runs away. Confinement stands for bondage and kinetic energy leads to freedom. It is justified spiritually on the basis of what Krishna says to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita: “Abandoning all other activities, come into my fold (bondage): I shall free you from all worldly bondages.”
An offspring won’t like to be liberated of the love with her mother.

It is, therefore, advisable that for being happy, we need to keep a balance in freedom too.