Lately I have been contemplating at leisure, trying to find out the answer of a self imposed question. And the question is 'To be a free spirit or a hypocrite'?
A free spirit does not necessarily mean a detached soul or a scholar lost in books or a person who constantly argues with others. A free spirit is a free thinker whose ideals are untouched and original. Of course there is no single idea that is completely 'original' but at least it shouldn't be borrowed. That's where the hypocrite comes into picture. Borrowed principles, stolen thoughts and copied words gives hypocrite the mask that he/she wants to wear.
We have read philosophies of Socrates, appreciated Ayn Rand's ideals and applauded to the theories of Einstein. But how difficult is it to live as a free thinker?
When faced with the harsh realities of a society where bigots have outnumbered mavericks, one realizes to 'pretend' is safer than to 'be'. The reasons may be numerous. We have been programed to like what we know and dislike what we don't. We have been taught to abide to a certain school of thought only. We have been thinking that we are wise and the others ignorant.
Thinking and believing is greatly influenced by learning. When we tend to think that learning begins in school and ends in an university, we fall in to a pattern of life. We stick to a idiosyncratic way of thinking. But when we cross the boundaries into the limitless universe, we realize that learning process is timeless.
As a free thinker, you might be ridiculed, segregated and completely mis-understood by the world but at least you are true to yourself. As a hypocrite you will be crowned to glory, praised by the 'learned' and win laurels but deep within you always know you are a deceiver. Being honest with one's own self is as important as being honest with others.
Aristotle states “The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.”
“You must understand the whole of life, not just
one little part of it. That is why you must read,
that is why you must look at the skies, that is
why you must sing, and dance, and write poems, and
suffer, and understand, for all that is life.
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