Who is in the cage?

The title is intriguing isn’t it. But let me tell you that the thought or the perspective is even more intriguing.

First things first, this is going to be a very thought provoking blog. It can have very interesting perspectives; different for each individual. Hence, I invite you to share your thoughts or ideas on this topic.

Here goes mine…

On my recent visit to a bird park, I stopped to look at a particular bird far too long. Something about that bird intrigued me. I felt the bird was looking at me straight in my eyes with its own piercing eyes. Without a blink. For around 10 minutes straight.

And at that moment, this thought crossed my mind.

What if it is we, the humans, who are in the cage and its the arial world, the birds, who have come to visit us. What if all of the human species, the master of the universe, is just an illusion and we have been living in a cage all along while the birds are actually free.

I had this strong feeling that if I enter that space where the bird was caged (supposedly) and see that space from the bird’s eye (pun not included) I might discover a completely different environment which is beautiful and which is what its supposed to be.

It was a very profound realization and for couple of minutes it made me so uneasy with my own existence that I didn’t notice that my partner was calling out my name for long.

Slowly, I came back to normal and resumed my trip. But this thought remained with me.

Is the life that we are living right now really normal?

If you look at it from a philosophical perspective, we are actually living in a cage which is created by us, our own species. Cage of aspirations and cage of rules.

Think about what does freedom mean? In simple terms it is the ability to do what you “feel” like doing at that very moment. I am not talking about emotions — just plain simple question: What do you feel like doing at this very moment?

Now as you think about it — think about can you do that thing without any consequence whatsoever? Sometimes yes, but most times no.

Take an example — I always wanted to learn music. When I was young I had time but I didn’t have the financial resources. But now when I have money, I simply don’t have time. Why? Because I have traded my time with money.

You might argue and say that why did you need financial resources to learn music in the first place. Couldn’t you just sing anything, couldn’t you just use an empty wooden box for your own drumbeats. That’s freedom right?

True. But here is where the cage of aspirations come in. I could’ve used an empty wooden box or just sung some tunes for a few days, for fun. I would start to get better with each day. And the fun would’ve made way for the cage of aspirations. And with that the need for resources would’ve emerged.

Once I obtained the resources when I grew up I felt good about making progress but then the cage of rules kicked in. The scales and chords and theory of music. And even if I made some progress with the rules, the cage of aspirations came in again, the desire to start my own YouTube channel. It never stops. It’s a cycle you see. We are never out of this cage.

Think about your own desires, things that you truly want to do. Can you do that without any trade offs?

So I ask you again: Who is in the cage?