Prison

 

Here we are going through life, prisoners of our senses and emotions. Yet we talk of Freedom. We proudly display our independence and say we are free to do what we want, when we want, say what we want, when we want. But the reality is we aren't really free. I watch myself and other people go about their everyday lives in our many splendoured cages totally unaware of it. The prison is an intangible one, its abstract. The Prison of our thoughts, emotions, intentions, experiences.

We are influenced by our parents, teachers, and people living around us, circumstances and events. To be Free, I think, we should be able to not be influenced but to pick and choose what we need or what works for us. Do we really choose for ourselves? Is'nt influence our prison too? It's almost a Stockholm syndrome... we like an idea because we empathize with the idea. After a while that idea becomes something we believe and so behave within the limits of our belief. We live our lives justifying the numerous things that we do or say or think because someone, someplace at sometime said it or did it and we empathize with it.

How many of us can choose one emotion over the other? Do we really choose who we will love or hate? If yes, then it should be possible for us to choose to Hate the ones we love or Love the ones we hate. On careful observation, we love either what is familiar to us or what gives us a sense of pleasure and within our zone of comfort, everything else we either are oblivious to or dislike. Which implies that there is a limit or boundary to the things that we could like/love/tolerate. So how are we free to love or hate?

Ambivalence is probably one of the emotions that can't be considered a prison. The "I don't care" either way attitude. Ever notice the first time you meet someone you weren't even thinking of meeting. We don't have an opinion of the person but gradually based on what they say or do or wear, our opinions form. Most times the first impressions of the person, lasts. Is it because it really is so or we perceive it so, therefore it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy?

I have too many questions, too few answers.

With my head in the clouds
Mithuna.