I was thinking about what Independence means for me in today’s context.
At the level of the larger community, the outermost circle, for me Independence means - Am I able to speak my mind without fear of rejection from my community? Am I free from the fear of negative comments on my LinkedIn Post? Am I free from “groupthink”? Am I free from the need to “fit in” to the countless molds out there, some very stark, and many more subtle?
At the level of the second circle, independence to me means - Am I free of attachment to things, people and situations in my immediate living space? Am I independent of my favorite food, drink, car, house, friend, family member, work promotion, or holiday destination to determine the level of my happiness?
And finally at the innermost circle - Am I free from the sway of my mind? Am I able to notice the momentum of my mind especially when I get some stimulus that makes me extremely angry or extremely excited? Am I aware of what I just said or did? Or am I simply the product of the dictates of my mind, a slave of my tendencies and thought-patterns? Do some people trigger the same strong feelings in me each time I meet them or even just think of them? Is my mind often a runaway-train or do I have the ability to watch my thoughts arise, stay, and disappear just like clouds in the sky?
Happy Three Circle Independence Day friends!
Video: 'Flight of the Garuda' in the Open Bangalore Skies, Independent of the Clouds or the noise below!
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