As one ruminates on the ideas around global political freedom and its importance, one needs to ponder on spiritual and emotional freedom at a personal level. Perhaps it’s an apt time to talk about what this inner freedom really means — and how we must strive for it. Dharma demands we live from this freedom and give each other the gift of freedom. In fact, the Vedic scriptures go on to assert that dependence (absence of freedom) is a kind of death (sarvaṃ paravaśaṃ duḥkhaṃ) and it is ultimately “freedom” that makes us happy.
So, What makes us happy?
सर्वं परवशं दुःखं सर्वमात्मवशं सुखम् ।
एतद् विद्यात् समासेन लक्षणं सुखदुःखयोः ॥
sarvaṃ paravaśaṃ duḥkhaṃ sarvamātmavaśaṃ sukham
etad vidyāt samāsena lakṣaṇaṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ ||
-Manusmriti 4.16
“All that is dependent on others is painful; all that is dependent on oneself is pleasing; the one who shall know this, in short, shall know the definition of pleasure and pain.”
No wonder the Vedas prescribe consciously and dharmically seeking all kinds of freedom for self and the collective (political, social, emotional spiritual) as a way of life. In fact, one of the four puruṣārthas, the four mandatory goals of existence as per the Vedas, in addition to the quest for Dharma (social and ethical harmony), Kāma (pleasure), and Artha (survival and fulfilment of ethical material desires), is to work towards embodying Mokṣa or total spiritual and emotional freedom — to become self-sufficient. This is an imperative, impinging not just
upon Hindus, but upon all humans. When we seek a life in pursuit of these four goals, we discover a type of emotional freedom that can help to cultivate liberation not only for ourselves, but for the collective as well.
This much-needed wisdom teaches us to release ourselves from the judgment or expectations of others and our own critical self-abandoning constructs of the ego. In doing so, we choose emotional and spiritual freedom that lasts and shines. This is an experience… a taste of Mokṣa in this lifetime.
The Dharma teachings of Divine feminine (Maa Shakti) and her many facets known as the Mahavidyas, Mahadurgas, feminine archetypes— have inspired this inner pursuit of freedom from the multitude of demons. Regardless of gender or gender expression, we all have the capacity to roar with inner freedom; the truth of the Divine Feminine within.
Come join us in accessing this freedom and joy as we transit through nature’s design of seasons to cultivate this inner awakening.
