Best things in life are free

In this cashocratic (rule of cash) day, there may not be many takers for this line, but that will not stop me from saying what I have to. Best things in life are indeed, free.

There is a notion that I have seen in my near and dear ones that money somehow brings happiness- more money is more happiness. I don't deny that money is needed for sustenance and to give you all that you need as a human being. But I fail to understand the link between money and happiness and as an extension, freedom. I recollect a few lines from what my teacher had once said- money can give you food but not hunger, bed but not sleep, medicine but not health, fear in people but not their love.

My friend wanted to buy a car and he bought, did it end there and was he happy? No, now he wants a "better" model one. Will this “better” phenomenon ever see an end? Think for yourself. This is not just about cars, it can be anything.

In contrast, have we ever experienced a silent walk watching the sun set, have we hugged our loved ones tight, have we chatted away with our friends and laughed loudly, have we appreciated someone for a good job done, have we sung and danced for ourselves,  or just lied down quietly doing just nothing, weren't they magical? Weren't they the things that made us more humans? Weren't they the moments when we felt connected to our real selves, shedding all our assumed "profiles"? What is a human being without feelings or emotions? A machine? Did you notice that none of these things cost me anything. By cost, I don't mean just money. Didn't we feel happy and blissful? What is the purpose of all human efforts and actions? Isn't it happiness and freedom? And we found that without spending anything. That's because we already have all that is required to be happy and free.

I am reminded of a story in Alexander the Great's life. Alexander comes to Diogenes, a philosopher, to seek his blessing before he sets out on a war. Diogenes is lying on a riverside with his pet dog. Diogenes (D) - why war? Alexander (A) - Because I want to become the king of whole world. D- Why? A- So that I can rest peacefully. Diogenes smiles and tells the dog - 'Look at this foolish king, he will kill people and destroy lives just to do what we both are doing already without moving an inch'.

Just because something is free or less expensive, it need not be useless.