Saturday, August 07, 2010

Network of Nets

We are all into it, and part and parcel of it, even as we create our own network of nets. The allure of life comes both with the notion of freedom, and, knowingly or ignorantly, capitulation to losing it.

Is there real freedom? Try any definition; the question, if one ponders and is inclined to go beyond and to comprehend, would be: Is it an absolute? Metaphysically, there is no way the answer can be in the affirmative; very simply, because there is always Beyond Freedom, what?  Meaning, is freedom ever unconditional? If yes, then it is an absolute; but is it ever unconditional? Try as one may, the answer is No. Every form of freedom comes with conditions attached. This fact of attached conditions negates the absoluteness of freedom because if freedom comes with conditions, however subtle, however imperceptible, however abstruse, there goes the freedom.

All India Radio had invited me in the 70s to give a talk on Freedom and Beyond. It generated a great deal of argument.  Many from among people to whom notions of life, death, and what happens to us in between,are important matters to understand or at least to discuss, engaged themselves, got convinced. Some did not; some who did not, turned away without either agreeing or advancing a counter-argument. If any one of the readers of the foregoing would like to engage me on this, I am willing to give examples of how freedom also is tied up with the maxim "Conditions Apply."











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