Page 43 - NAMAH-Jan-2018

Notes on counselling

Connotations of freedom in counselling

Dr. Soumitra Basu

Abstract
Freedom has different connotations in counselling. The urge for freedom may not
indicate outrageousness but may be due to the Time-Spirit pressing for a transition from
the individualistic to the subjective age of the social cycle en route to a spiritual age.
Counsellors have to be sensitive and facilitate a freedom in the matrix of harmony and in
consonance with the evolution of consciousness.

One interesting point is that one of the most Long back Yudhistira in the Mahaabhaarata
commonly used terms that crops up during had narrated that the greatest paradox in
counselling sessions is also that which is life is that though everyone is destined to
abstract and elusive and is seldom realised. die, we all behave as if we are immortal.
It is that which we like to cherish for Extending the same line of thinking, Sri
ourselves though not necessarily for others Aurobindo had pointed out that though
and we would even not mind achieving it the human being cherishes freedom, he
at the cost of depriving others. That term also likes to be chained, “The whole world
is freedom. yearns after freedom, yet each creature is in
love with his chains; this is the first paradox
and inextricable knot of our nature (1).”
Thus the ordinary human being is chained
to his own subconscious. He is chained to
the world of collective suggestions. He is
chained to his social stratosphere. He his
chained to his cultural roots. He is chained to
his environmental integers. And he is chained
to the attributes of his own personality — his
senses, his desires, his ego and to the fixation
of his thoughts.

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