Satyopanisad

[Guest guest]

Swami! Many of us are helpless when we interact with youngsters. They often say,

" Don't interfere with our freedom. We are independent and act in the way we

choose. " We find it difficult to convince them about what we think is right, and

to guide them in the right direction. What should we do in the present

circumstances?

 

From your statement, it is very clear that modern youth do not know what freedom

is. They use terms like sveccha , freedom and svatantra, independence,

indiscriminately without knowing their correct meaning.

 

What is freedom? What is independence? If freedom means behaving as we like,

without any norms, in what way then are we different from birds and beasts which

act as they like? They move about freely without any restrictions. They also

procreate producing dozens and dozens of young ones. If that is what the

youngsters mean and want by `freedom', insects, birds, and animals, without

attending any universities and getting degrees are able to manage to secure food

and shelter and live freely as ordained by nature. Then in what way does your

freedom benefit you? What is your specialty? What for is your education? Animals

are better than you as they have some reason and season. You have neither reason

nor season.

 

What is sveccha, freedom? If the Sanskrit word sveccha is analysed properly

sva+iccha is sveccha. Sva means `yourself', i.e. soul, spirit, atma, iccha means

`will'. Thus, sva, atma plus iccha - will means the will power of atma. So this

relates to our atma. Is it that sveccha that our youngsters want today? The pity

is they do not know the meaning of the word they use.

 

Then, modern man says, " I have svatantra, independence, to do anything I like.

Can't I be independent? " Here also youngsters do not know the meaning of

svatantra. Does svatantra mean reckless, careless, and irresponsible behaviour?

No. If you think that moving and roaming around, eating and drinking anything to

your liking, are the signs of independence, don't you see that cats and rats

also enjoy themselves in the same manner? Does independence mean food and drink?

You are spending your entire lifetime any way on these two, food and drink. Life

has come down to the level of just loading and unloading.

 

Then what is svatantra, independence? You have to remember in this context one

important point. True, you have independence. But, there is a limit. Your

independence should not come in the way of the independence of others. So you

have independence up to the point that it does not affect the independence of

others. A small example. A gentleman on a fine morning started his stroll,

waving his walking stick and swinging it freely. After some time a man passing

that way pointed out, " Do not swing your walking stick like that! " Then this man

said, " Why not? I have independence and can move my walking stick in any way I

like " . But, the other said, " Sir, it is true. But your independence to swing

your walking stick ends where my nose begins to appear because while swinging

your walking stick, I am afraid, you might hit my nose " . This is the limitation

of your independence.

 

We also hear people say, " We are celebrating svarajya, Independence Day. " Is it

true? No. Here sva means `self'. Have you mastered yourself? Do you have control

over your senses? Usually svatantra means becoming independent of foreign rule.

You break the chains of slavery under the yoke of the rulers and declare

independence. This is political independence. This is not enough.

 

Spiritually also you should be independent by controlling your senses,

conquering your weaknesses and checking your evil tendencies.This is

independence in the kingdom of Atma. You become truly independent only after you

have conquered desire, lust, greed, anger, hatred, avarice, sense of vengeance,

etc. You have to understand the meaning of svatantra in this sense.