“Socrates did not evade his sentence, but he never allowed the polis to think for him. Marcus Aurelius, at the height of his power, wrote to remind himself that what is essential does not depend on external domination. Jesus proclaimed that truth sets us free, and he lived without subjecting his message to the interests of the powerful. Throughout history, great masters and sages have agreed on one central assertion: freedom is not conquered outside, but within.
Today, the mechanisms of the system do not require critical thinking, but mechanical repetition. They do not encourage doubt, but conformity. Their effectiveness is sustained by devices as diverse as advertising, algorithms, and empty entertainment, all designed to keep us busy, docile, and compliant. However, living is not the same as obeying. Freedom does not consist in rejecting rules, but in preserving the integrity of conscience in the face of the demands of comfort or utility. Thinking for oneself, even in solitude, is a form of inner resistance. Ultimately, living freely means not reducing existence to an imposed function, but embracing it as the search for a truth that cannot be delegated.”
Prabhuji
