All of us need food, clothes, and shelter to survive. At this level, self-interest is natural because without these basic needs we cannot live. But psychologically we do not need any theories to live. Although we need to fulfil our biological needs, the moment we think that it is right to have everything that we need or want, no matter what the situation is, then it merely becomes another concept or theory. Then there is no freedom of the brain. Maybe, at times and when necessary, one may have to compromise with the not-so-immediate needs, for something that is more urgent or necessary. However, our evaluation of the urgent and necessary too is based on our conditioning, prejudices and ideas of what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad, or what is important and what is not.

The younger generation wants more and more freedom. Young people feel that they should not be stopped from doing anything that they want to do. For most of us, freedom means living according to various concepts and theories that we can choose in the hope of finding happiness, but such a mind is merely a slave to a concept or a formula. Only when the mind is whole, when there is no self or ego, there is freedom.

Freedom from Ideologies

When we want to do everything that we want to do without caring about others, then there is a struggle or conflict with people, especially when we enter or invade their personal freedom. So, there may be no peace physically. Psychologically too, it causes a conflict inside the brain. Also, in doing everything that we want to do, we are unnecessarily destroying animals and other human beings for our pursuits, goals, entertainment and amusement.

Most of us are occupied in our own little world, which is the world of ideals, prejudices and wants. There is hardly any connection or communion with people. When we act from our morals and principles, without being sensitive to the situation, then such an action is still a self-centred activity. This is because in doing whatever our ideals and morals tell us to do, no matter how good they are, we are merely giving importance to our accumulated knowledge. But we are not sensitive to the situation. There are people who are virtuous because this gives them respect, fame and power. So, obviously, they are concerned about themselves and not others. Also, there is a possibility that their action may be unnecessary under the given circumstances or a particular situation. It can even cause damage or harm to others. However, one can always cultivate good manners and politeness in speech, but if one is acting without awareness and the feeling of love, it may have very little value.

Conscious and Unconscious Motives

A person who does charity and other noble acts without the inner feeling of love and compassion has a motive, conscious or unconscious. People who act according to some knowledge are always pursuing something. They may have conscious motives. For instance, they may think doing good will earn them name, fame or power. They may think that helping someone today will make that person help them with their needs and requirements.

There are also unconscious motives. People may have accepted certain formulae ages ago and they think that following these ideals will bring inner development and inner peace. So, they keep acting according to these formulae.

If people do good with a motive in mind, then they are selfish people. As long as the self is active and dictates the action, there will be selfishness. The act of doing good to others is not in question here. But if people act out of love and compassion, only then does the action becomes vital. When there is love, then there is no question of duty. We do what we can without becoming a doormat, depending on what we can do and what we cannot and our circumstances. This compassion is for everyone around, including animals, plants and all living things. The ones who act out of love may be aware that what they are doing will bring its own joy; but it is what they feel strongly that drives the action and not the goal of happiness.

Unhealthy Mind and Body

Though we may not be acting according to any formula, we still cannot think of anything else apart from our immediate needs. So, there is neither awareness nor sensitivity towards others. There is also no long-term vision for our own life. This generally happens when the body and mind have become dull due to various reasons such as unhealthy lifestyle, drugs and intoxication. There may be moments of awareness due to a crisis even during intoxication or when the effects of intoxication are over. This awareness can give understanding of the causes that make the body and mind dull.

Treatment of Animals

Human beings have become selfish and insensitive towards other species and towards each other. We have various arguments to support our beliefs and actions and our insensitivity towards humans, animals and other living things. People may say that some animals kill and eat others and therefore we too can do the same. However, it is in the nature of animals to kill and eat other animals. But when humans do this, there is a lot of cruelty. When animals kill other animals, the degree of violence is not the same. Carnivorous animals have natural organs to kill other animals. But humans don’t possess these organs. And that is why when we kill animals, there is a lot of brutality in the action. Moreover, humans have a brain, which can be used for constructive as well as destructive purposes. When it is used for destructive purposes, there is war, devastation and brutality. We are not only killing animals, but we are also keeping them in terrible conditions and torturing them for life.

Human beings have wiped out several species of animals and have made the lives of various species miserable on Earth. For many of us, entertainment and amusement are important. So, we are ready to sacrifice animals or birds and cage them for our pleasure.

Some people argue that plants are also living beings and eating them is also some form of killing and violence. People may argue that there is no difference, whether one kills an animal or a plant. It is true that plants have a life too. But we need to eat something to survive. The killing of plants for basic survival cannot be compared to the killing of animals for food and entertainment. It is necessary to awaken the sensitivity within us, because without this sensitivity we may treat everything in the world to be for our use without any sense of responsibility.