Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands

28th September 2016

Freedom 

“Evolves”

 

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is universally accepted as the truth. Life has evolved and there is neither a doubt nor a question about that. The theory indicates that the intelligence in life has evolved the species found in life.

This indicates that every characteristic and functional feature of living species has undoubtedly and without a question of doubt evolved. One of the characteristic features of a human being is his longing for freedom.

Man has longed for freedom since aeons of time. Since aeons of time man is not certain what freedom is or could be, but nevertheless every man and woman longs for freedom.

Charles Darwin’s theory indicates that even the longing for freedom needs to evolve if man could taste his longing for freedom. But man has no control over evolution to be able to direct it or to shape it.

Evolution proceeds continuously, spontaneously, uncontrollably and unpredictably. This implies that evolution is a process that will unfold the way it is meant to unfold and man has no say in it.

But man strives to achieve freedom. This implies that striving to achieve freedom has evolved in man. How could man understand this feature of evolution?

Man could understand this feature when he understands that even the feature of understanding evolves as well. When understanding evolves man understands that it is impossible for man to achieve freedom. 

Man understands that it is impossible to achieve because everything is what it is meant to be due to evolution and cannot be other than what it is meant to be in the moment. When it is what it is, man believes that he has achieved. When it is not what he wishes or wants man believes that he has not achieved. 

Freedom is the understanding that you have evolved and had no choice in it. So too daily life evolves and you have no choice in it. Be grateful to life that you are what you are, without having a choice to be what you are. This understanding is freedom.

Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2016 

Editor’s Note:
It is difficult for the mind of man to understand that the flow of his life is as it is and that it is not the outcome of his or her own desires or aspirations. ‘The sky is the limit’ has been a target set for ambition and for a taste of freedom and continuous effort the energy needed to reach it. The wise, however, understand that the desire for freedom is not satisfied by attempting to change the status quo. Freedom is the very understanding that man has evolved to be what he or she is and that he has no choice in the evolution. This understanding is the blessed gift of the wise.
Julian Capper, U.K

German Translator’s Note:
There are not many who doubt the theory of evolution by Charles Darwin. However, the conclusion that even the longing for freedom has to be part of evolution and is not in man’s hands, is not pondered very often. If we ponder the obvious fact that everything in life has evolved spontaneously, long before man appeared on the face of the earth, we come closer to the wisdom of the sages, that freedom is not possible in form of free will. Freedom is presented here by a living sage, Dr. Shankar. It is so different from the freedom the mind longs for. The one who understands is free from the longing for freedom, in any situation.
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany.

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