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concept

Freedom

The concept of freedom represents release from constraints across spiritual traditions. Traditions converge on the idea of liberation from suffering. They diverge in their paths and understandings of achieving this state.

4,355 quotes

Across traditions

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Quotes

There is none bound, none freed, and none seeking to be free.
Sri Aurobindo
HinduScriptureVisionFreedom
The Life Divine, p. 57
The sages, united with pure reason, renounce the results of their actions and, liberated from the cycle of birth, they attain a state of bliss.
Swami Sivananda
HinduScriptureAttainmentLiberation
Practice of Karma Yoga, p. 29
One cannot attain knowledge unless one is free from egotism.
Ramakrishna Paramhamsa
HinduTeachingAttainmentEgo
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 779
Thus the knowledge more secret than all secrets has been declared to you by me. Reflect on it fully, and then do as you wish.
इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया | विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु ||१८-६३||
Krishna
HinduTeachingKnowledgeWisdomSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 18.63
Transcending these three gunas that arise from the body, the embodied one, freed from birth, death, old age, and pain, attains immortality.
गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भवान् | जन्ममृत्युजरादुःखैर्विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्नुते ||१४-२०||
Krishna
HinduTeachingLiberationFreedomSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 14.20
The person freed from these three gates of darkness, Kaunteya, pursues what is good for the self and thereby reaches the supreme goal.
एतैर्विमुक्तः कौन्तेय तमोद्वारैस्त्रिभिर्नरः | आचरत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्ततो याति परां गतिम् ||१६-२२||
Krishna
HinduTeachingLiberationFreedomSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 16.22
The divine destiny leads to liberation, the demonic to bondage. Do not grieve; you are born for a divine destiny, Pandava.
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता | मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ||१६-५||
Krishna
HinduTeachingLiberationVirtuesSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 16.5
the sage bent on liberation, with senses, mind, and intellect controlled, freed from desire, fear, and anger — such a one is forever liberated.
यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्मुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः | विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः ||५-२८||
Krishna
HinduTeachingLiberationSelf ControlSanskrit
Bhagavad Gita 5.28
'The wind is bodiless; and clouds, lightning, and thunder are bodiless. Now just as these, rising up out of the space above and reaching the highest light, appear each in its own form,'
अशरीरो वायुरभ्रं विद्युत्स्तनयित्नुरशरीराण्येतानि तद्यथैतान्यमुष्मादाकाशात्समुत्थाय परं ज्योतिरुपसम्पद्य स्वेन रूपेणाभिनिष्पद्यन्ते
HinduTeachingFreedomLightSanskrit
Chandogya Upanishad 8.12.2
'One who meditates on name as Brahman can move about at will as far as name reaches — such is the reward of one who meditates on name as Brahman.' 'Sir, is there anything greater than name?' 'There is indeed something greater than name.' 'Then please tell it to me, sir.'
स यो नाम ब्रह्मेत्युपास्ते यावन्नाम्नो गतं तत्रास्य यथाकामचारो भवति यो नाम ब्रह्मेत्युपास्तेऽस्ति भगवो नाम्नो भूय इति नाम्नो वाव भूयोऽस्तीति तन्मे भगवान्ब्रवीत्विति
HinduTeachingWorshipDivine NameSanskrit
Chandogya Upanishad 7.1.5
The Lord supports this universe joined together — the perishable and the imperishable, the manifest and the unmanifest. But the self, being powerless, is bound because it is the enjoyer; when it knows God, it is freed from all bonds.
संयुक्तमेतत् क्षरमक्षरं च व्यक्ताव्यक्तं भरते विश्वमीशः । अनीशश्चात्मा बध्यते भोक्तृ- भावाज् ज्ञात्वा देवं मुच्यते सर्वपाशैः ॥ ८॥
HinduTeachingLiberationFreedomSanskrit
Shvetashvatara Upanishad 1.8
The person who accurately knows the names of the unmanifest, the qualities, and their pure operations, is well-versed in the truth about all distinctions, freed from the body, liberated from all qualities, and enjoys absolute happiness.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingDifferencesHappinessSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5560
He is completely emancipated who does not covet others' belongings, never disregards anyone, transcends all dualities, and has a soul free from attachment.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingGreedSoulSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5507
One who regards all creatures as himself, is restrained, pure, and free from egoism, is considered to be emancipated from everything.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingEgoOnenessSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 5507
You are the one who gives eternal liberation as the result of righteous actions, without any desire for personal gain.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingAttainmentGood DeedsSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 4935
Those who do good deeds can break this bond and free themselves.
Vyasa
HinduTeachingGood DeedsUnitySanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 4710
Renunciation of all attachments is the highest means to achieve liberation. It is through knowledge that we can achieve renunciation and become free.
Janaka
HinduTeachingAttainmentKnowledgeSanskrit
Mahabharata, p. 4666
One who is content with whatever they receive without effort, free from dualities, without envy, and balanced in success and failure, remains unbound even while acting.
Krishna
HinduTeachingContentmentHarmony
Practice of Karma Yoga, p. 122-123
Work becomes elevated when it's done with the right mindset, free from attachment and egoism.
Swami Sivananda
HinduTeachingEgoMind
Practice of Karma Yoga, p. 25
The Karma Yogi, having renounced the fruits of action, attains eternal peace or liberation through wisdom, whereas one who is driven by desire and attached to the fruits of action becomes bound. (Gita: Chapter V-12)
Swami Sivananda
HinduScriptureAbiding PeaceAttainment
Practice of Karma Yoga, p. 13