On Freedom

Why does spiritual awareness matter?

Spiritual awareness matters profoundly because it is the wellspring of both safety and freedom. Safety is essential because it is the foundation upon which relaxation, joy, playfulness, fun, and love can thrive. Without a sense of safety, these precious facets of life remain elusive. However, safety alone is insufficient. It needs to be coupled with freedom to unlock the full spectrum of joy, playfulness, fun, and love.

Freedom, in the context of spiritual awareness, isn't about having unrestricted access to everything at all times. Keeping doors open merely for the sake of it is a form of enslavement, driven by the fear of being confined.

True inner freedom revolves around the ability to make conscious decisions. It hinges on being "conscious" rather than operating on autopilot, where choices are made based on programmed responses. Anything that obstructs the path to inner freedom is an opportunity to break through those barriers.

The core element of freedom is inherently spiritual. When you find spiritual peace, you gain the freedom to fully inhabit the present moment, even if it means sharing a small cabin with mosquitoes or a communal bathroom with others.

By choosing to find security in your sensory experience of the here and now, you can transform pain into pleasure. Pleasure often resides in the discomfort of the unknown. You can rest in the unknown by making a conscious choice to do so, thereby exercising your freedom.

(Reflections from Norway with my two boys)