THE EDITOR, Sir:THIS DEFINITION of freedom, which I read from the writings of one of the foremost yogis of modern days, comes to my attention 42 years too late. However, in the spirit of "better late than never", I wish to share it with The Sunday Gleaner's readers:
"To do what one wants to do, is not freedom.
To do what one should do, is"
To illustrate, suppose I am a confirmed smoker. I know all about the harm that smoking does: lung cancer, heart trouble, early death, asthma, emphysema etc. My loved ones urge me to stop smoking, what did I do, I exercised my FREEDOM, and went on smoking just the same. Am I free? No, I am not, because I am the slave of my evil habit of smoking.
Suppose I listen to good advice, and stopped smoking for good, have I lost my freedom because I obeyed my loved ones' advice? No, I have not, because I exercised my freedom in logical thinking, and thus FREED myself from the bondage of smoking.
This is a simple statement, but has profound meanings. I felt that in 1962, had we Jamaicans had a true understanding of what freedom is, things today would have been vastly different. Even today, if enough Jamaicans will begin to practise it personally, I believe that before long we can see surprising improvements in our beloved country.
I am, etc.,
HELEN CHINSEE
Falmouth
