--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the West, there's a myth that freedom…" description: "\"In the West, there's a myth that freedom means free expression-that to follow all desires wherever they take one is true freedom. In fact, as one serve..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/jack-kornfield-936_ability_in-the-west-there-s-a-myth-that-freedom_1650071.png" --- # In the West, there's a myth that freedom means free… ![“In the West, there's a myth that freedom means free expression-that to follow all desires wherever they take one is true freedom. In fact, as one serves the mind, one sees that following desires, attractions, and repulsions is not at all freedom, but is a kind of bondage. A mind filled with…” quote by Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/jack-kornfield-936_ability_in-the-west-there-s-a-myth-that-freedom_1650071.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/jack-kornfield-936_ability_in-the-west-there-s-a-myth-that-freedom_1650071.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e1/jack-kornfield-936_ability_in-the-west-there-s-a-myth-that-freedom_1650071.png) > “In the West, there's a myth that freedom means free expression-that to follow all desires wherever they take one is true freedom. In fact, as one serves the mind, one sees that following desires, attractions, and repulsions is not at all freedom, but is a kind of bondage. A mind filled with desires and grasping inevitably entails great suffering. Freedom is not to be gained through the ability to perform certain external actions. True freedom is an inward state of being. Once it is attained, no situation in the world can bind one or limit one's freedom.” [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Freedom is an inner state, not the unrestricted pursuit of desires; external liberty without inner peace leads to bondage. **In simple terms:** True freedom comes from inner calm, not external actions. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner awareness to achieve lasting freedom. Themes spirituality psychology freedom Mood calm insightful Type spiritual self‑help When to use this quote - meditation - therapy - personal development - stress management - relationships Key Concepts Mindfulness attachment suffering Questions to Reflect On - What inner practices help you feel truly free? - How does desire create a sense of bondage? A Different Perspective External freedoms cannot replace inner liberation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Attraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction/) [Attraction and repulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attraction-and-repulsion/) [Bondage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bondage/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Free expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-expression/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Repulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repulsion/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [True freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-freedom/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [True freedom is an inward state of being. Once it is attained, no situation in the world can bind one or limit one's freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/true-freedom-is-an-inward-state-of-being-once-it-is-attained-no/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [The saints, many of them women, warred with themselves as well as God. The body has its own animal urges, just as there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-saints-many-of-them-women-warred-with-themselves-as-well-as-god/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Until now when we have started to talk about the uniqueness of America we have almost always ended by comparing ourselves to Europe. Toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-boorstin/until-now-when-we-have-started-to-talk-about-the-uniqueness-of/) [Daniel J. 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When, when shall we learn that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anthony-froude/minds-vary-in-sensitiveness-and-in-self-power-as-bodies-do-in/) [James Anthony Froude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anthony-froude/) > [But the self-controlled man, moving among objects, with his senses under restraint, and free from both attraction and repulsion, attains peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinmayananda-saraswati/but-the-self-controlled-man-moving-among-objects-with-his-senses/) [Chinmayananda Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinmayananda-saraswati/) > [All the forces that we see in nature, such as gravitation, attraction, and repulsion, or as thought, feeling, and nervous motion - all these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/all-the-forces-that-we-see-in-nature-such-as-gravitation-attraction/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [It seems safe to look forward to the time when the conception of attractive and repulsive forces, having served its purpose as a useful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/it-seems-safe-to-look-forward-to-the-time-when-the-conception-of/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions; life is plurality, death is uniformity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their-2/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [The more one studies the harmony of music, and then studies human nature, how people agree and how they disagree, how there is attraction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/the-more-one-studies-the-harmony-of-music-and-then-studies-human/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [Your mind is turbulent because you're filled with desires, frustrations. You want too many things. You are afraid of too many things. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/your-mind-is-turbulent-because-you-re-filled-with-desires/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Even though flowers fall, don't regret it. Even though weeds grow, don't hate them. Don't arouse the passions of attraction and repulsion, hating and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hakuun-yasutani/even-though-flowers-fall-don-t-regret-it-even-though-weeds-grow-don-t/) Hakuun Yasutani > [It requires greater courage to preserve inner freedom, to move on in one's inward journey into new realms, than to stand defiantly for outer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/it-requires-greater-courage-to-preserve-inner-freedom-to-move-on-in-2/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [“...suffering and freedom have their limits...those limits are very near together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/suffering-and-freedom-have-their-limits-those-limits-are-very-near/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Our attitude in the face of life's challenges determines our suffering or our freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/our-attitude-in-the-face-of-life-s-challenges-determines-our/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) ## More by Jack Kornfield > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [In opening we can see how many times we have mistaken small identities and fearful beliefs for our true nature and how limiting this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/in-opening-we-can-see-how-many-times-we-have-mistaken-small/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Wherever you are is the perfect place to awaken. This moment is the exact place to practice compassion and loving awareness. You have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wherever-you-are-is-the-perfect-place-to-awaken-this-moment-is-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Acceptance does not mean inaction. We may need to respond, strongly at times...From a peaceful center we can respond instead of react. Unconscious reactions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/acceptance-does-not-mean-inaction-we-may-need-to-respond-strongly-at/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To live in this precious animal body on this earth is as great a part of spiritual life as anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-live-in-this-precious-animal-body-on-this-earth-is-as-great-a-part/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [We do not have to improve ourselves; we just have to let go of what blocks our heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/we-do-not-have-to-improve-ourselves-we-just-have-to-let-go-of-what/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To open deeply, as genuine spiritual life requires, we need tremendous courage and strength, a kind of warrior spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-open-deeply-as-genuine-spiritual-life-requires-we-need-tremendous/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [As we step out of the way new things are born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/as-we-step-out-of-the-way-new-things-are-born/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [For most of us, generosity is a quality that must be developed. We have to respect that it will grow gradually; otherwise our spirituality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/for-most-of-us-generosity-is-a-quality-that-must-be-developed-we-have/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [What is truly a part of our spiritual path is that which brings us alive. If gardening brings us alive, that is part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/what-is-truly-a-part-of-our-spiritual-path-is-that-which-brings-us/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Working with these distractions, steadying the canoe, letting the waves pass by, and coming back again and again in a quiet and collected way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/working-with-these-distractions-steadying-the-canoe-letting-the-waves/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To understand ourselves and our life is the point of insight meditation: to understand and to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-understand-ourselves-and-our-life-is-the-point-of-insight/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To let go in the deepest recesses of the heart, to release all struggle and wanting, leads us to that knowing which is timeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-let-go-in-the-deepest-recesses-of-the-heart-to-release-all/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wisdom-says-we-are-nothing-love-says-we-are-everything-between-these/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Breathing meditation can quiet the mind, open the body, and develop a great power of concentration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/breathing-meditation-can-quiet-the-mind-open-the-body-and-develop-a/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) [Explore all 324 Jack Kornfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. 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