Three Gateways To Freedom

These very special gateways are usually spurned by just about everybody. When the gateways conspicuously pop up in our lives, as they regularly do, we do back-flips to avoid them. They are distasteful, in some ways frightening, and make us feel absolutely miserable. So why bother discussing them at all?

It's because they hold the key to our freedom in this world, and the next. If you believe that what we do on earth doesn't matter, then you needn't read further. If, however, you believe that what we do with this scant time that we do have is important, please read on.

We can experience things such as freedom of religion, freedom of choice, and freedom of speech; these we can know and feel, but these are not what we are discussing here. This ultimate freedom is something quite different, a freedom where we never have to be concerned about superficial freedoms again.

Superficial freedoms require favorable outside circumstances, such as a sympathetic, cooperative society, or government, or country. Ultimate freedom, on the other hand, never depends on outside circumstances whatsoever, because circumstances can change.

The interesting thing about the three gateways is that they seem to be opposite of what we believe our freedoms to be. For example, the first gateway is change; everything changes, and this causes insecurity. Who wants insecurity? No one. But the fact is, everything does change, and insecurity is therefore a fact of life.

So how can the truth -- that everything changes -- offer us ultimate freedom? It seems that we would not want to think about this. Who wants their comfortable circumstances to change? Maybe bad circumstances, but not comfortable ones. Who wants to grow older (other than a 15 year old)?

The next gateway is discontent. How can discontent be an ultimate freedom? We go to great lengths, everyday, to escape our discontent, making fun goals and entertaining ourselves, so how can discontent offer us freedom? It seems that escaping from discontent offers the real freedom, not discontent itself!

The last gateway is that nothing stands behind our body and mind -- nothing. No soul, no watcher, no power; just a body and mind that will eventually turn into dust. Whoa! This is freedom? How about depression!

Change, discontent, and nothing standing behind the obvious -- three very interesting statements that demand further investigation, wouldn't you say? Or do you prefer continuing down the worn path of mechanically fearing and reacting to these gateways, and trying to escape them?

When we no longer have to escape them, when they no longer hold any power over us and no longer represent the 800 pound gorilla in the room, then we are free; and we remain free. Its that simple.

Therefore, these three gateways, that appear so negative at first, actually offer the real freedom we so desperately seek. When we stop seeking our freedom through spurious means such as temporary pleasures, and simply face these three gateways, an amazing thing happens -- we begin the process of freeing ourselves for good, not only in this lifetime, but in our subsequent world as well.

So the next time you find yourself avoiding one of these gateways by perhaps making yourself look younger or more attractive, or looking for some entertainment when you feel a bit bored, or even allowing yourself to believe some theory about life after death that you havent looked into but believe anyway, then of course continue avoiding the gateway. But do one other thing, if you can; something that will be different from anything that you have ever done before -- be aware that you are avoiding the gateway!

Ultimate freedom begins with this kind of awareness, not sleep. So WAKE UP, if you have the courage. If not, at least realize that the gateways will imprison you forever. After all, they are gateways, and they are locked!

But locks have keys -- and your attention to things that you have never considered in the past and the new world you will discover there, is one of them.