Page 165 - Bodhayanti Parasparam Vol 2

PRANAHUTI AIDED MEDITATION AND ANTYAKALASMARANA
want to evaluate ourselves naturally it is wise to see whether the qualities and virtues spoken of in religious and spiritual literature have actually developed in us. Then and then only we gain social recognition and that is a precondition to enable us motivate others to follow the path of PAM. What are the parameters by which we could say we have progressed in spiritual life.
The first and foremost thing to note is that we should have a sense of freedom. Freedom is a much abused word. Since the French revolution it has been secularised to such an extent that it has now come to mean almost licentiousness and irresponsibility. Freedom from bondages is our aim surely. But we cannot give freedom without restraint to wild animals however much we appreciate they have a right to live freely without bondages of the cages in Zoos or Circuses. Similarly we cannot give freedom to children to play with Gas/Electric stoves. We cannot give freedom to people to practice habits which are injurious to their health and that of others.
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