Having versus Being

Erich Fromm wrote 'Having versus Being' and I found it revolutionary when I read it, even though his message is actually only a reminder of what spirituality has told us over thousands of years: when you run after possession, knowledge, sex and power, you only think you are free, but you are bound instead. Whenever there is unhappiness with what is, if you like to be somewhere where you think you are not, you are not free.

Freedom is the equilibrium, the point where you are right now, and every movement away from the center of tranquility only happens when this creative Force, the Tao, invites you to dance and you willingly agree because you see that is just is a continuation of the 'is'. In the state of 'being', you accumulate possessions, you acquire knowledge, you have sex and you are powerful, but you are not bound by them. 

Freedom is having transcended the ego, which wants things, knowledge, status and power to be a cut above everyone else. You have transcended the trap that keeps you running eternally in the wrong direction. Being is the natural flow in harmony with Creativity Itself, you are moving as well, but at each time you are in the now which is perfect and you are happy to know that where you are is exactly where you should be.