One of the themes of this issue is freedom, but who is actually competent enough to talk about it? It certainly can’t be anyone famous or any highly-regarded authority, because fame or academic titles constitute restricting factors; they affix enslaving labels to a person. Based on that assumption, Tomasz Wiśniewski had a discussion about freedom with an accidentally-encountered passer-by on the street of a certain city. This person drew attention to themself by the fact that there was nothing special about them (let’s also add that they preferred to remain anonymous).
Tomasz Wiśniewski: What is freedom?
X: In my opinion, real freedom means to be free ‘of something’; to not be forced into some alternative, to remain beyond it. For example, freedom is not when a mother asks her son if he prefers pasta or rice, but rather when that son is beyond the dilemma altogether.
Could you build on that thought?
Real freedom is the fact of not being defined by any situation; drifting above the law, above society, religion, family ties, and I would even add being above the laws of physiology, because a person who is truly free is not a person who needs to eat or sleep – these issues make that person dependent upon something which is beyond that person’s existence. We could even say that it strips this person of any honour; turns this person into a slave, into a robot. That’s what I think.
So could we in that case state that the only being who is free in the sense that you speak of, therefore in absolute terms, is God?
That would be a profound exaggeration. I’ve heard that Hindus are able to free themselves not only from the tight confines of their minds, but also from the limits of their bodies. A decent yogi can walk through walls or conquer great distances in a split second on a whim. I must admit that even I really only eat for pleasure now.
You did not agree to disclose your name. Why?
A name is a cage into which we are thrown by society. In addition, it imposes connotations, gender, or identity. If we didn’t have any names, the state would not be able to control us. For the reasons above, I remain nameless.
Thank you for this remarkable conversation.
But please forget about it quickly. Otherwise, its memory will become a burden for you [and for the readers as well – author’s note].
Translated by Mark Ordon
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