One of the greatest aspirations in the world today is to be free. People want the freedom to lead a life of purpose, to be healthy and to prosper. Freedom is a precious gift which promises an experience of liberation, a feeling of going beyond limits, whether imposed by others, time or physical circumstances, and an experience of being at one with ourselves, each other and the world. Freedom enables us to choose the direction of our lives and to create our own destiny.

Freedom can be seen mistakenly as a blank cheque which gives permission to "do what I like, when I like, to whomever I like". True freedom is exercised and experienced when all have equal rights. To violate the rights of another - for any purpose - is a violation of freedom. Full freedom functions only when rights are balanced with responsibilities and choice is guided by conscience. Our freedom to must ensure that others remain free from - free from violence, want, injustice and fear. The world will not be free from wars and injustice until people free themselves from their inner bondage. The iron chains that suppress people and nations will break only when the inner chains of anger, ego, greed and violence break. Freedom means to conquer our own hostility, greed and ill will, to free ourselves from wrong perceptions and limited beliefs. The greatest freedom is self-mastery - the freedom from our own weaknesses and illusions. Such freedom has a liberating effect for all.

Freedom comes with responsibility as one who is responsible will make worthwhile use of everything that is available to him or her. The responsible use of time, relationships, wealth and natural resources depends on the level of respect we have for all these. Respect guarantees and protects lasting freedom. When we loose our respect for something, then we are in bondage to it - mentally, emotionally, economically or physically. We must re-orientate our values and our principles and regain our inner freedom and self-mastery because on this depends freedom for all.