Who is Free?

2000-6-2 00:02:00

Craig writes:
"The desire to protect ourselves from change probably does more harm to the flowering of human life and spirit than almost any other choice. But it is imperative to understand something about security: it isn't secure. Everything about security is contrary to the central fact of existence - life changes. By trying to shelter ourselves from change, we isolate ourselves from living."

I am happy to agree with you here Craig. This also goes along with what I will write on freedom. When we choose freedom we always take a risk. But of course in not choosing freedom we are assured a bad ending, even though the few may benefit for a short time.

Now to your second post, Craig, commenting on the quote from Joseph's [a new list member] dissertation: "You make profoundly good spiritual sense to me. However, don't get your hair up when you receive the first ten replies telling you that you need to be grounded, and that your beliefs do nothing creative in this physical realm."

I do not believe that Joseph will get hit with a barrage of criticism here. I think you underestimate the quality of this group. His post definitely presented a different point of view, but at least he brought the topic into play. I think that as long as he attempts to write on the topic at hand, and not disrupt others from the learning they have freely chosen, he will be welcome here.

By the way Joseph, where did you get this philosophy that you write of?

I hope none of you took my associating Jesus with 666 seriously. I was just illustrating how almost anyone could be made to look like the beast. In fact there used to be a web site where you wrote in your name, or any name for that matter, and it calculated 666 from that name entered using various numbering systems.

This illustrates how most people are looking for the meaning of the number in the wrong direction. For those of you interested in learning more, you might want to go back to the beginning of the Keys and read the postings for the first three months where the beast was discussed in detail.

Now back to the subject of freedom. Because we have digressed I may not properly acknowledge all the interesting messages the group has posted on the subject, but, even so, many of them were interesting and I'm sure that the group as a whole enjoyed them.

Here's the material assigned on the current topic of freedom:

"From what we have discussed thus far, attempt to reduce the principle of freedom to a sentence or so.

"Question: Would universal health care as advocated by current politicians violate the principle of freedom?

"Can you think of a way to produce universal health care without the restriction of freedom?

(1) The majority benefits and has more freedom?
(2) The minorities benefit and have more freedom?
(3) If you or your family benefit and have more freedom?
(4) If every man woman and child gets a thousand dollar check in the mail from the government?
(5) If there were no government?"

Let us start at the beginning: "From what we have discussed thus far, attempt to reduce the principle of freedom to a sentence or so."

Lawrence made a good comment on this principle concerning our relationship to the government: "An essential political principle that determines whether freedom is enhanced is the nature of government power. For example, the founders of the United States endeavored to create a government where the power of the state was strictly limited; where government might _only_ do that which is permitted, whereas individuals could do _anything_ that is not prohibited."

That is a good principle Lawrence. The government should only do that which we permit, but the individual should be able to do all that is not prohibited because of harmfulness. When the government begins assuming powers that we the people have not granted it, it becomes a beast that seeks to destroy freedom through the use of fear and intimidation.

But what we are seeking here is the core principle. Once we understand the principle and follow it, we will never be enslaved again.

How does one become free?

(1) Deciding to make a choice wherever possible, rather than letting all the choices that govern your life be made for you.

Free will involves more than just living in a situation where you are not restricted from the outside. More importantly, it involves a decision to decide and take responsibility for your life. He, who does not take responsibility for his life and actions within that life, will never be free.

(2) Placing a greater value on freedom than one does on security. Security is often offered by giving up freedoms.

(3) After deciding on a choice and placing value upon it, one must see through the illusions that will trick him into freely giving up his freedom. In the end, the only way freedom can be lost is by giving it to another through your own free will. Once the true path of freedom is seen, this path must be followed. If it is not pursued and time passes, the night will come and the vision of the path will dim.

Jesus said: "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."

What does this mean?