15/08/2008
Today is a very special day for all of us – the Indians . Our INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Just felt like reflecting on what independence means to me .
Independence, to me, means, when one enjoys the freedom of mind and buoyancy of human spirit .
Anyone who understands freedom knows that freedom is not total abandon, or leissez-faire. If I am free, so are others. So while I enjoy my freedom, I am also alive to my responsibility to respect freedom of others.
And Buoyancy .. ? Well, press me down , and I will bounce back. Ever seen a child playing in water with a ball filled with air/gas ? Try pressing it – it bounces back and keeps afloat. And what keeps it afloat is what is within it. Similarly, human spirit - apply external force – instead of yielding, it would soon find its own course for expression and show its true mettle – human spirit knows no bounds.
The moment I live by these principles of “ have and let other have”, occasions for collision with others will be very few. And if at all there are such occasions, I will have the courage to make the correct choice. And I would remember – it may not always be correct to choose for self at the cost of others ; and at the same time , it may not always be correct to let others choose at the cost of yourself . Wisdom is : to be able to differentiate between the two situations and when that wisdom dawns on anyone, that is a state of true freedom of mind and human spirit - true independence.
Independence to me is when I tell myself “It matters little what others think about you or what the world may say: it is by your own honest judgement of yourself that you must stand or fall .” and mean every word of it !
Independence to me is when I close my eyes and hear my Almighty saying “ Why fear when I am there : Put all your faith into me and I shall guide and guard you.” and believe in every word of it !!
