To be bound to anything, including compulsive thought and action, is to be enslaved. I disagree with Vivekananda that we desire a thought or action because we are forced to desire it and we are helpless. We are conditioned by our world, and we often unknowingly develop habits, compulsions, and addictions which can be extremely difficult to break free of, but we aren't helpless, we have the ability to free ourselves. A person is not powerless, even if he or she says 'I can't'. Our sense-life and our ability to think and act are fine servants and terrible masters, and if we let them be masters we're in trouble. I don't always act without being bound, but I am able to, and when I accept that, I act freely. Learning from life experiences helps me develop an intelligence that goes beyond the sense and thoughts. I often don't free myself, but I know I can free myself. For the most part, 'I can't' is a lie, and 'I don't' or 'I won't' is the truth. What I spend my time thinking about and how I act are my responsibility.
On Sep 2, 2022 David Doane wrote :