Freedom, Opinions and Life

“Have you ever considered any real freedoms? Freedom from the opinions of others...even the opinions of yourself?”.

What will be your answer to the above question, which as a matter of fact was asked by Col. Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. For me the answer is simple – No.

But why No is the next question, considering the fact that most of the times we never get to know what others think about us; those opinions are just perception based.

As for opinions of ourselves, we form opinions of ourselves just to differentiate ourselves from others and exalt ourselves - some examples – ‘I am great because I am writing an article on a single line taken from a 30 year old film’, ‘I am again great because I never complain about things’, or ‘I am more great because I know I am not bold enough to look that certain girl in her eyes’ – what rubbish assuming our weaknesses to be our strengths - had I been that great these things would never have come into my mind. Opinions, indeed, what bondage and what a waste of time…

PS: Why do we live? Is it because some said “Life is the greatest gift”, or because in our nascent years we decided to achieve an ultimate objective - something like ruling the world? Well I don’t think so.

I think most of us have tendency to fix short-term targets and the quest of achieving them becomes what we call life. This leads us to the next question, what keeps us motivated during the quest. Is it not affection and appreciation; the affection and appreciation not only in eyes of others, but in our own eyes as well. And except for blood relations, I think the affection and appreciation originate from opinions.

Opinions, once again….On one side they are bondage and waste of time and on the other side they are the essence of our lives…

So, getting rid of opinions is the only way to achieve real freedom, but do we need real freedom is the question…

Animesh