Born free but in chains

Now also, in modern era, I feel it's right.

His mind is free to think everything. But the society or family where he lives, he has to take care of those things also. He has to keep his own boundaries at sometimes. That's why it's told 'chains'.
Am discussing it as his freedom to do things of his own wishes..........
But when it was written, Russia was in slavery. Isn't it?
Now slaves are diminishing. Yet, very often, our rights to express our views and ideas are also diminishing. isn't it?
Am seeing it as 'chains'. Everything in this world has restrictions. Actually some restrictions are needed also. isn't it??????

A man is never born free but a child does. You know as long as the one remains unknown to worldly problems he is as free as a bird but as soon as he understands matters he is chained or you can call -burdened.

What are the chains? Anything that hinders development of your personality is chain. Anything that prevents free thoughts and identifying with whole humanity is chain. In fact, man is chained everywhere. The animal world is free. The domesticated animals may be physically chained but humans are chained in traditions, preconceived notions and social customs.

This aspect was highlighted by Osho. The strongest chains are of religious community. There are ready made thoughts and views conceived by forefathers or founders of religious communities or sects. You cannot think or act freely. You must believe in Hindu/ arya samaji / Sanatani/ Muslim. Christian dogmas according to your accident of birth in a particular community.

Again as they say a child never knows the boundaries of religion or cast and creed therefore whatever is fault is there man made and that too at a later stage, he is not born with chains but binds them round their neck by own self. Religion is like a dead snake round ones own neck.

Again as they say a child never knows the boundaries of religion or cast and creed therefore whatever is fault is there man made and that too at a later stage, he is not born with chains but binds them round their neck by own self. Religion is like a dead snake round ones own neck.

Best example is marriages......
Only a few cases only, a person marries outside his caste or religion

Again as they say a child never knows the boundaries of religion or cast and creed therefore whatever is fault is there man made and that too at a later stage, he is not born with chains but binds them round their neck by own self. Religion is like a dead snake round ones own neck.

Best example is marriages......
Only a few cases only, a person marries outside his caste or religion

Just a matter of time, people will forget every thing about cast and religion. Although I have nothing against religion. I only responded to GulshanG's post.

I think use of the words 'chains' is a metaphor impregnated with great profundity. We are not only in chains by external elements. We are ironically capable of putting more chains internally that too all by ourselves!

Yes there are some social rules which bind us not to do what we like those who do it against society are often have to bear the brunt. :blink:

The fact that everyone should agree including me and we are the sole proprietors for chaining ourselves..Every individual has a key to unchain it.

I think use of the words 'chains' is a metaphor impregnated with great profundity. We are not only in chains by external elements. We are ironically capable of putting more chains internally that too all by ourselves!

Yes, sometimes we are putting our mind in chains, not allowing it to fly free.

It's best applicable while our tuition teacher is taking classes for us :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

It is said that man is born free but everywhere he is in chains.
Is this not contradictory. Let us discuss this.

Freedom is elusive in life ! You keep thinking that you will be free after such and such a goal is achieved but it never works that way.Sometimes , we may not want to be free...what else is there in life except relationships and the constant struggle to maintain and cherish them ?

Again as they say a child never knows the boundaries of religion or cast and creed therefore whatever is fault is there man made and that too at a later stage, he is not born with chains but binds them round their neck by own self. Religion is like a dead snake round ones own neck.

Best example is marriages......
Only a few cases only, a person marries outside his caste or religion

Just a matter of time, people will forget every thing about cast and religion. Although I have nothing against religion. I only responded to GulshanG's post.

There is nothing wrong with religion as such. what i stress is liberty for free thoughts. We all belong to religious communities which have preconceived or ready method opinion on each issue that you must accept without question.

I feel religion is totally a personal issue of a particular person therefore I would not like to make a comment on this sensitive issue, although I have a lot to say.

I do agree with Gulshanji's views that religion - more specifically organized ones - does put us in shackles! As far as my belief in religion is concerned I prefer to be guided by my own conscience! I have seen the illiberal face of religion!

I think use of the words 'chains' is a metaphor impregnated with great profundity. We are not only in chains by external elements. We are ironically capable of putting more chains internally that too all by ourselves!

I agree! I remember seeing a video of an experiment done on elephants. A baby elephant was caught from the wild and only his one hind leg was kept chained. Being young and free-spirited, he tried and tried to break those chains, but was unable to do, still he persisted. Then slowly as he grew up, he gave up trying because he realized he will never be able to break the chain that bound him. Then one day, when he had totally given up trying, the chains were removed. But the elephant was now so used to being held back by the chains, he never realized that he was free and did not even take a single step towards freedom.

Don't we all resemble him in many aspects?

I think use of the words 'chains' is a metaphor impregnated with great profundity. We are not only in chains by external elements. We are ironically capable of putting more chains internally that too all by ourselves!

I agree! I remember seeing a video of an experiment done on elephants. A baby elephant was caught from the wild and only his one hind leg was kept chained. Being young and free-spirited, he tried and tried to break those chains, but was unable to do, still he persisted. Then slowly as he grew up, he gave up trying because he realized he will never be able to break the chain that bound him. Then one day, when he had totally given up trying, the chains were removed. But the elephant was now so used to being held back by the chains, he never realized that he was free and did not even take a single step towards freedom.

Don't we all resemble him in many aspects?

But when he goes mad, he break every chains :woohoo: :woohoo:
Can even cause a traffic block for hours........

It's true, like Hanuman, he doesn't know his true power unless he gets mad :woohoo: :woohoo:

I do agree with Gulshanji's views that religion - more specifically organized ones - does put us in shackles! As far as my belief in religion is concerned I prefer to be guided by my own conscience! I have seen the illiberal face of religion!

who could know better. You are born in land of Raja Ram Mohan Rai, who is my role model.

I do agree with Gulshanji's views that religion - more specifically organized ones - does put us in shackles! As far as my belief in religion is concerned I prefer to be guided by my own conscience! I have seen the illiberal face of religion!

who could no better. You are born in land of Raja Ram Mohan Rai, who is my role model.

Gulshanji, I consider Raja Ram Mohan and Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar to be two great souls who successfully championed the causes of women by displaying very rare courage in the face of all odds and even threat to their lives! There is a tale about what steeled the resolve of young Ram Mohan to rid the society of the barbaric, brutal Sutee system. His very young sister-in-law who was his playmate was married to his elder brother who was much older. And when he died his wife was drugged and dragged to the pyre and burned alive and young Ram Mohan saw that aghast by hiding himself behind a big tree. And thereafter his revolt began!

I think use of the words 'chains' is a metaphor impregnated with great profundity. We are not only in chains by external elements. We are ironically capable of putting more chains internally that too all by ourselves!

I agree! I remember seeing a video of an experiment done on elephants. A baby elephant was caught from the wild and only his one hind leg was kept chained. Being young and free-spirited, he tried and tried to break those chains, but was unable to do, still he persisted. Then slowly as he grew up, he gave up trying because he realized he will never be able to break the chain that bound him. Then one day, when he had totally given up trying, the chains were removed. But the elephant was now so used to being held back by the chains, he never realized that he was free and did not even take a single step towards freedom.

Don't we all resemble him in many aspects?

Yes it is conditioning of the mind and I remember having read about an experiment done on a hen - its beak is kept pressed to the ground and after doing this several times it refuses to lift its head inspite of not being held down...We do the same ! we get so used to doing things in a certain manner that we tend to resist change even when it is good or positive ..

I think use of the words 'chains' is a metaphor impregnated with great profundity. We are not only in chains by external elements. We are ironically capable of putting more chains internally that too all by ourselves!

I agree! I remember seeing a video of an experiment done on elephants. A baby elephant was caught from the wild and only his one hind leg was kept chained. Being young and free-spirited, he tried and tried to break those chains, but was unable to do, still he persisted. Then slowly as he grew up, he gave up trying because he realized he will never be able to break the chain that bound him. Then one day, when he had totally given up trying, the chains were removed. But the elephant was now so used to being held back by the chains, he never realized that he was free and did not even take a single step towards freedom.

Don't we all resemble him in many aspects?

But when he goes mad, he break every chains :woohoo: :woohoo:
Can even cause a traffic block for hours........

It's true, like Hanuman, he doesn't know his true power unless he gets mad :woohoo: :woohoo:

True Sandhya, a mad elephant can easily break chains but once that momentary madness subsides, he willingly comes back to his post!! In a sense he never realizes he is free!