Myth of Freedom
I find fireworks a curious phenomenon; rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, and all that. They have a certain beauty, but I always think about the fires started, the fearful scattering of wildlife, PTS symptoms in veterans, the air pollution—all in the name of freedom. Not to mention the incredible monetary cost. How many people could be sheltered, clothed, and fed with these funds?
It seems we have bought into a cultural ethos about freedom being the right to do what pleases us, regardless of the impact. Why do we need to be reminded to consider the needs of others? Does true freedom exist if many remain enslaved, hungry, dispossessed, or otherwise unhappy?
This is why it is so important to generate bodhicitta, the heart mind of compassion. Under this influence, we become kinder to ourselves and others. We remember why we are called to this life: to remember our capacity to love all beings without limit.
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