How to help others use their freedom wisely

When we guide someone, such as a trainee or a child, it’s essential to respect their need for autonomy and facilitate it appropriately. This means we should train them to use their freedom wisely.

If we consider a pendulum, one extreme is to not give them any freedom at all due to the concern they may misuse it. While well-intentioned, this approach can become tyrannical and leave them unprepared for life if we are not there to guide them in the future.

The opposite extreme is to give them total freedom, letting them do as they please and face the consequences of their choices. This approach reflects irresponsibility on our part, as it shows a lack of care or concern for those we had previously cared for.

A balanced approach lies between these two extremes, where we offer a certain degree of freedom within a range of options that are acceptable to us and safe for them. For example, with a growing child, we could allow them to choose their meal from a menu containing only healthy options, avoiding any that are too unhealthy or unaffordable.

Throughout the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna offers Arjuna various options, as seen in 12.8–11, where he provides a range of pathways for expanding consciousness, from the most spiritually evolved to those grounded in humanitarian values. At the end of the Gita, in 18.63, Krishna calls upon Arjuna to deliberate on what he has heard and make a well-informed choice, exemplifying balanced guidance.

By appreciating and applying Krishna’s approach, we too can responsibly help others to use their freedom wisely.

Summary:

Giving our subordinates no freedom out of fear they may misuse it is tyrannical on our part.

Granting them total freedom and leaving them to deal with the consequences alone is irresponsible on our part.

Providing freedom within a range of acceptable options is responsible guidance on our part.

Think it over:

Can you recollect any incident when you were given no freedom at all by your authorities, and how that affected you?

Can you recollect any incident when you were given too much freedom, and how that affected you?

If you are guiding anyone, contemplate how you can responsibly give them freedom to help them choose wisely.

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18.63 Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.