Wanting to Do Whatever We Please – Is That True Freedom?

This dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang invites us to reconsider the concept of freedom through the lens of Buddhism. He teaches that true freedom is not merely doing whatever we want, but is intimately connected to ethics and the liberation of the mind/heart. As the temple bell rings, one might ask if freedom is simply acting on impulse. But should a thief be free to choose, or should a virtuous person be restricted? In his lecture titled "Freedom and Ethics," Venerable Thich Chan Quang deeply analyzes this issue, revealing that freedom is not a gift given indiscriminately, but rather a reward for ethical conduct.

## The Two Extremes of Freedom: From Feudalism to Modern Society

Human history has witnessed many struggles to gain freedom. During feudal times, people were bound by the will of kings and lords. Later, democratic revolutions swung to the opposite extreme, granting humanity too much liberty. According to Venerable Chan Quang, both of these extremes are mistaken. He observes that we must eventually wake up and reflect on this truth. Moving from one extreme to another is not progress. True advancement lies in the Middle Way, a path that allows human development without descending into wild instinct.

## Freedom Within the Family: Which Child Deserves Trust?

Venerable Chan Quang offers a very relatable example. Imagine a family with five children. When the parents go out, who do they entrust with the house keys and money? Certainly, it is the child who is well-behaved, frugal, respectful to elders, and free from greed. No one would dare hand over assets to a child who is addicted to gambling, smoking, or drinking. We only grant authority and freedom to those who possess virtue. Clearly, the more ethical a person is, the more worthy they are of enjoying greater freedom. This logic is easy to understand within a family, yet in society, we apply a uniform standard of freedom to everyone. This is unreasonable, but humanity has not yet found a way to correct it because we cannot know who is truly worthy from birth.

## A Uniform Standard of Freedom Is Unreasonable

Humans are not gods with divine eyes that can see into every heart. Therefore, we maintain general laws for everyone, even knowing they may not be perfectly fair. Venerable Chan Quang imagines that centuries from now, humans might use genetic scanners to determine moral character at birth. Each person could then have their own set of rules: the good being free to travel the world, while the bad are restricted to a few steps. He states that freedom cannot be identical for everyone; it must be assessed individually. Those with great virtue deserve extensive freedom, while those lacking virtue must face limitations. Although this is fictional, the idea highlights that freedom and ethics must go hand in hand. Paradoxically, inequality in freedom based on merit is actually what is just and reasonable.

## Growing in Ethics Means Growing in Freedom

From a social perspective, ethical individuals enjoy more freedom and become useful members of society. From the perspective of the Buddha's teachings (Dharma), ethics also lead to spiritual liberation. Venerable Chan Quang shares a story about a death row inmate who recited the Buddha’s name and had his sentence reduced. He advises us not to worry about external freedom, but to focus on our own moral cultivation. He says, "Do not be concerned with whether you can do whatever you wish. Instead, be concerned with how deep your ethics run. If you live ethically, you will experience profound freedom." When ethics reach perfection, freedom becomes absolute. This is nirvana, a state unbound by samsara (cycle of rebirth) and its realms. The path of practice is simply the daily growth of ethics to expand inner freedom.

## Freedom as an Opportunity for Creation and a Challenge

It is undeniable that freedom fosters creativity in literature, art, science, and technology. However, excessive freedom can also allow negative instincts like greed, hatred and delusion to flourish, leading to selfishness and downfall. This remains a problem modern society has not fully solved. Similarly, if we cultivate our own ethics, we naturally create opportunities and find peace. Do not beg for freedom from the outside; instead, generate it through wholesome actions. Let us focus on ethics rather than demanding freedom. When our virtue is complete, absolute freedom will arrive. This is the heartfelt message from Venerable Thich Chan Quang for us in this turbulent world.