What Is Freedom?

This conversation focuses on the essence of Freedom on the path. Conversations on the path to a whole heart. Join us for this unique opportunity to engage deeply in the journey of conscious evolution.

Traditionally, knowledge is shared through a Q&A format, where the disciple sets the direction and pace. Join us to share your questions, insights, and doubts as we grow together on the path to a whole heart. Feel free to bring a friend, and together, let’s spark a movement toward collective sanity.

Co-hosted by our beloved Carly Beaulieu.

Transcript

Hello,

Dear people,

Welcome to another opportunity we give ourselves on the right path.

Stop the rush,

Hold hands and walk the path together.

This time we are gathered under the question,

What is freedom?

What is it to you?

And any question related to that subject is most welcome tonight,

Today,

Wherever you are.

I'm going to just say a couple of sentences and then I'm happy to receive your questions.

Remember,

Our path is paved and our journey is propelled by your questions.

You determine the pace,

The depth and the content of this meeting.

So the more you ask,

The more you share,

The further we go.

These are the rules of the game on the right path.

So freedom,

What is freedom?

Freedom from what?

First,

It's important to realize that the whole spiritual journey is about increasing the level of freedom.

Right?

And for that matter,

You can say that enlightenment is the ultimate state of freedom.

But what does it actually mean?

And if I'm not free,

What is bounding me?

These are important questions to ask.

We all have ideas and concepts,

We have hopes and dreams about freedom and becoming free.

But let's try to unveil that a little bit,

Of course,

In our own very modest way.

Carl is here to sound the voice of the sincere seeker for us.

So I see there's always already a few comments on the subject.

Deborah says freedom from suffering.

Eugene says freedom from the delusion of separateness.

Freedom from suffering.

Yeah,

It begins there,

For sure.

Hello,

Ernesto.

What is important that we put on the table,

Even as our first step on this journey,

Is to realize that the freedom that we refer to on the spiritual path has got nothing to do with the realm of circumstances,

Events,

Choice between this and that.

This is a common misconcept of what freedom is.

And it's relevant for suffering and freedom from suffering because we suffer by definition,

This is the definition of suffering,

We suffer when we believe circumstances should change.

And we can only be happy when different circumstances replace the current one.

Right?

When will I be happy?

When I will be free to do whatever I want,

You know,

I will be free to go on a vacation or retire or find a job,

All that.

Or I will be free when I divorce,

Or I will be free when I marry.

Yeah,

We all have ideas and concepts about happiness,

Freedom,

And believe that our freedom is a consequence of circumstance.

So it's important to put it on the table as a first step.

Freedom,

At least not the freedom that we are discussing in this context of spiritual growth.

Freedom has got nothing to do with circumstances.

True freedom cannot be a consequence of event.

Why?

Because as long as we depend on a certain circumstance to be free,

Then we are not free.

Correct?

We are dependable.

We depend on this versus that.

And in this context,

We are not free.

True freedom is freedom from the attachment to the realm of circumstance.

So definitely it starts there.

It starts with us realizing that our freedom was never a derivative of events.

And so that race,

Eternal race after a specific event,

That race is retired.

It's gone.

Even on the spiritual path,

Never mind,

You know,

I'm running after women,

Running after money,

After respect,

After position in society,

Whatever.

Even on the spiritual path,

You know,

All of us had those moments of grace where,

You know,

There was no I,

And it was just eternal bliss experienced.

And I was like,

Whoa,

That's it.

I got it.

And then what happens?

It disappears.

Right?

And then you keep on trying to reconstruct that.

Oh,

Yeah,

I touched that.

I tasted it.

I want it again.

Correct?

I want to experience that.

This is freedom.

This is what I was hoping for.

And I need to find a way to relive that.

So the chase continues.

After what?

This time,

Not after money or women,

But after an experience.

Specific experience,

Which is,

Of course,

Different than the one I'm having currently.

So the trap remains.

Same trap.

Now it has a spiritual context,

But it's a trap nevertheless.

Do you see that?

AJ is saying freedom from the delusion of separateness.

The last evolution stage that our consciousness grows through as it matures to full maturity.

First one is freedom from suffering.

Second one is freedom from fear.

As we stop complaining about the circumstances,

We grow to realize that these circumstances are not and never was a threat.

So we stop being afraid of life.

That's the second stage.

The third stage is loving the opportunity to live life,

To experience it,

Embracing that opportunity.

Now we are free to do that because we don't suffer,

We don't complain,

We don't victimize,

And we are not afraid of life anymore.

So now we are available to love it as it is,

Not as it should have been.

And then the fourth stage is melting into life.

Love helps melt me and life into oneness.

That's the fourth stage.

Don't need to worry about that.

This will happen in its own pace,

On your path,

Regardless.

You just need to make sure that you are not postponing the inevitable.

Michelle is asking,

Grasping?

What?

What does it mean?

Related to what you were speaking about?

What was I speaking about?

Michelle,

We need some explanation here.

Who wants to ask about freedom?

Grasping on money,

Grasping on spirituality?

Yeah.

Freedom from the hope that happiness can be found in reality,

In the material reality that we meet,

As a consequence of events.

So what we do,

We grasp,

Trying to hold on to what we believe is good,

And we avoid or manipulate what we believe is bad.

Craving and aversion,

Craving and aversion.

So the ability to meet reality without reacting to it in that way is crucial.

To meet reality without craving and aversions,

Craving and aversions.

Emily is saying perspective.

What about perspective?

How does that play into the spiritual path?

Tremendously.

I don't know if you have had the chance to see this movie called A Journey to the End of the Universe.

It's like two hours of zooming out from planet Earth,

From,

You know,

Wherever you sit.

Yeah,

On a park bench near a lake somewhere.

And the camera is slowly zooming out to your surroundings.

And,

You know,

The city,

The country,

The planet,

It's zooming out slowly.

And then as it zooms out,

It goes you through a journey all the way to the edge of the known universe using actual images that were taken by Hubble and other telescopes.

So I always said this is probably the most spiritual movie I've ever seen.

Because it's inevitable to be humbled by the vastness of things.

And it really gives you perspective.

Next time you are overwhelmed with your own shit,

Zoom out of it.

Spiritual growth is all about zooming out.

Like we did in the beginning of this session,

No?

Zoom out.

Definitely perspective is important.

Debra says,

I feel free at some level when I'm not striving and can allow myself to be in the flow.

I can feel the lack of constriction.

Beautiful,

Yeah.

Be in the flow.

This is the third level,

No?

Embracing life.

Be in the flow.

Because life is flowing.

Whether you like it or not,

Things change.

So you either fight with the flow,

Try to swim against the flow,

Or,

You know,

Holding on to the bamboo on the side of the river,

Trying to resist the flow.

Good luck with that.

Or embrace the flow.

Be a part of it.

Even contribute to it.

Grow life versus against life.

Think how much more powerful you can be,

How much more influential you can be,

If you stop trying to swim against the current.

Emily is saying,

Awakening of your soul and a sense of wholeness.

And Debra says,

I've battered myself pretty bad resisting the flow.

That's what happened to every one of us,

No?

When we resist the flow,

When we try to manipulate life to meet our demands because of our sense of lack and fear.

Yeah.

This is a sure way to lose the game.

Because life is stronger than whatever we try to force,

Forcefully achieve.

Isn't it?

AJ is asking,

Is the path to surrender to what is,

Or to co-create an existence free of the distractions and obstacles on the way there?

What's the human role in this process?

Surrender to what is versus co-create an existence free of the distractions and obstacles on the way.

It starts with surrendering.

And surrendering is not such a big deal.

You know,

People think,

Oh,

I would surrender.

It's so difficult.

It's so dangerous.

I tell you,

Surrender is your nature.

It's the easiest thing you will ever do.

Just take a deep breath and let go.

Let go of everything you hold on to,

Everything you try to manipulate,

You resist,

You object.

Anything you have an idea about what should happen,

What should not happen.

And just op it.

Realizing your resistance is not helping you on your path.

It's an obstacle that you create for yourself.

So surrender is a natural outcome of that realization.

And of course,

It helps when you stop being afraid of life.

This is where surrender dawns.

No,

You stop being complaining about life,

Stop suffering,

And then you stop being afraid of life.

And then surrender follows.

No,

Just then you're available to love life.

So first it's surrender.

Then once you are truly surrendered and your energy,

Your prana,

Your sankalpa,

Your intention is there devoted to the expansion of consciousness,

The evolution of consciousness.

You take an active part in that through experiencing your life.

Definitely.

But this is a natural outcome of you allowing yourself to truly surrender.

And how that happens,

Don't worry about it.

It happens naturally.

Your job is to be aware of what is prohibiting that.

So the Borg was correct.

Resistance is futile.

Take me to your leader.

AJ is saying surrender to clear and imminent threats,

People,

Places.

Oh,

Like the Borg.

Surrender.

Yeah.

Again,

If you're asking about clear and immediate danger,

Yeah.

If clear and immediate danger is there,

You protect yourself.

You do whatever is necessary.

You know,

Your body already knows what to do.

You don't really have to worry about that so much to survive.

But these are rare eventualities.

Usually we live in a very protected environment and we don't face clear and immediate danger.

What is clear and immediate?

There's no room for interpretation.

If you don't react,

You will die.

Immediately,

Not maybe in 20 years.

So in those cases,

Definitely you make sure you protect the secrecy of life.

Other than that,

Make sure that you are available,

That you are not afraid of the opportunity life gave you to experience the present moment.

You're not resisting.

You're not avoiding.

You're not manipulating.

You're not victimizing yourself.

Oh,

It should have been different.

I know what reality should have been.

You know,

Don't make it too philosophical.

When you wash your dishes after lunch and you believe that somebody else should have washed the dishes.

Find those gaps in everyday life.

It could be you washing the dishes or the quality of meditation that you experienced this morning when you sat for meditation.

You know,

Yesterday it was so beautiful.

I saw indigo lights,

Jesus came and talked to me,

Touched my forehead.

Today,

Nothing happened.

So,

May it be mundane or divine,

You make sure that you are not resisting life.

Who else?

Michelle is asking about still having goals when you're surrendering,

I assume.

Yeah,

Yeah,

Goals are good.

Don't get confused between goals and happiness.

You know,

Most of us set goals believing that only after they achieve,

They can be happy.

That's why they put on goals in the first place,

Because this reality as it is can't allow me to be happy.

So,

Something else should happen.

And I think I know what.

When I will get my degree,

When I'll find a job,

Right?

When I get a raise,

When they fire my boss,

When I retire,

Etc.

,

Etc.

There's always a goal that hides a promise of happiness.

So,

We keep chasing images of happiness,

Like mirage,

No?

It's something that you never reach,

Isn't it?

So,

Setting up goals,

If it makes you feel more oriented and,

You know,

Driven,

Motivated,

Good,

Do it.

Put goals,

Set goals and achieve to.

.

.

What's the word?

Fulfill them.

But don't fall in this trap believing that only when your goal is achieved and fulfilled,

Then you can be happy.

That's an illusion.

See the difference?

What else?

AJ is asking something about relationships.

I guess back to the clear and immediate threats.

So,

That was a definition.

But how to deal with,

For example,

Toxic relationships when the threat is a slow burn,

Maybe.

Yeah.

And Amelie is talking about boundaries.

So,

There is a whole talk about boundaries.

Find it on my Insight Timer page.

I don't want to repeat myself too much.

We discussed boundaries for an hour.

Why is it important to put boundaries?

When do we put boundaries?

What are they helping?

And do we really need them?

So,

Listen to that.

Don't be lazy.

Find it.

Toxic relationships.

Yeah,

This is a delicate subject.

The first thing to know when dealing with relationships is that.

.

.

Or dealing with life generally.

The first thing to be reminded of again and again is no matter how intense the experience is,

It's never beyond your capacity to experience it with a whole heart and a willing soul.

Whether it meets your expectations or contradicts them.

This is crucial.

People run away from experiences.

People run away from relationships because they believe that this is too much.

I can't take it.

I can't take it anymore.

It's too much.

It's beyond my capacity.

I tell you,

It never is beyond your capacity.

That's an illusion.

An illusion that is created because you don't know still how big you are and what is your capacity.

What is your actual capacity?

An enlightened consciousness does not run away from life's challenges.

Yeah,

It's challenging sometimes very much to everyone.

Also the enlightened between us.

Life can be very challenging,

But it's not a threat.

It's not considered a threat anymore.

So there's no reason to run away.

You deal with your experience full heartedly,

Even when it's difficult.

Another thing that is important to remember when dealing with relationships is that other people on the other side of the relationship,

They give us only the best they can at a given time.

This is the best they can.

Even if that best is manifested as cruelty or,

You know,

His behavior.

So don't be too quick to judge the other person for what they do,

What they say,

How they behave.

Don't kill the messenger for that matter.

Even if the message he brings is not pleasant,

Uncomfortable,

Don't be too quick to kill the messenger.

Do I have to stay in a relationship if I am more than a few minutes late?

More interested in spiritual growth?

No,

You don't have to stay in a relationship.

You don't have to do anything.

You don't have to stay.

You don't have to go.

You're free to flow with life.

Okay.

These are not rules of what you should do or should not do.

You see what I'm saying?

Once you realize that happiness or freedom is not a consequence of a specific event,

Whether I'm in a relationship or without a relationship,

Once you realize that this was never the case,

Then you are free to flow with the direction life is taking you.

Sometimes the direction of life takes you closer together.

Sometimes it takes you apart from each other.

Both are okay.

Make sure that you don't decide whether to stay or to go because you are suffering,

Because you are afraid.

Then you know you are not contributing.

You are not synchronized with the flow of life.

The flow of life is always love expanding.

This is a sentence I would recommend right on your fridge.

The flow of life is always the flow of love expanding.

Once you are in tune to that flow,

You cannot do any wrong decision.

You see?

You don't stay in a relationship because you're afraid,

And you don't leave any relationship because you're afraid.

You do whatever is harmonious because you let love grow.

You see what I'm saying?

This is the definition of freedom.

You are free to choose.

You are free to be in sync with the harmonious flow of life,

Of love.

That's your choice,

And there's no other choice.

That's the only choice you can make.

What else?

Your responsibility is to become aware of what prevents love to flow in you,

As you.

What are the blockages that you put on that flow?

That's your responsibility.

Stop blaming reality.

Stop blaming circumstances.

Stop blaming other people.

That's never the case.

It's always an illusion.

You put that blockage.

Become aware of those blockages.

Make a list,

If necessary.

Mark them down.

What do you believe?

And how does that belief make turbulence in the flow?

Then remind yourself you're free to choose.

Do you choose to keep on fighting against,

Protecting yourself against?

Or do you choose to surrender and flow with the natural flow of life?

It's your choice,

And you're always free to make it,

Regardless of circumstances.

Ella is saying your responsibility is to see what prevents you to let love in.

That is your responsibility.

Yeah,

Exactly.

Let love in and flow out.

That's the flow of love.

Love is penetrating,

And love is emitted out of you,

As you.

Destroying the differences between you and life,

So you can fully emerge in it.

Rishu,

My invitation for you today is make it a priority to identify all of those occasions where you block the flow.

When you manipulate the stream,

Creating unnecessary turbulence.

When you reject,

When you manipulate,

When you argue,

When you are acting out of fear and suffering,

Ignorance,

Be honest and courageous in this self-reflection.

It's not always easy to look in the mirror in that sense,

But honesty and courage are essential here.

So,

Mark those occasions where you are unwilling to surrender,

And then remind yourself you are free to choose whether you cling to that position of resisting,

Or do you prefer to flow with life with a whole heart and willing soul?

This is homework worth investing time and energy.

I guarantee it will help you on your path.

I would like to thank you guys for coming here today,

Sharing your thoughts,

Your questions.

We're going to meet again next week to share the results of this homework.

So,

You've got a week to sit with yourself,

And let's grow together.

Ivy can join next time on time and find out what this live is about.

Yeah,

Come back.

We start at 12 p.

M.

Mountain time.

So,

Wherever you are,

Don't miss it.

And AJ's asking what the weather's like here.

It's miserable.

It's not miserable.

It's currently a little bit cloudy.

Otherwise,

Very beautiful.

Bye-bye.

Love you very much.