Freedom For

It is not enough to be industrious; so are the ants. What are you industrious about?
-Thoreau

"Question: I've come to feel a tremendous sense of freedom over the years in the sense that I no longer feel imprisoned by nationality or place, or my own personal history. But there is also a sadness mixed with this freedom. What is this sadness?
Osho's reply: Freedom has two sides and if you experience only one side of it, a single side, you will feel freedom mixed with sadness. You have to understand the whole psychology of freedom.
The first side is freedom FROM: from nationality, from a certain church, a certain race, a certain political ideology. This is the first part of freedom, the foundation of freedom. it is always FROM something. Once you have attained this freedom, you will feel very light and good and happy. And for the first time, you will start rejoicing in your own individuality, because your individuality was covered with all those things that you have become free of.
But this is only one half - and then the sadness will come, because the other half is missing. Freedom FROM is fulfilled, but freedom FOR WHAT? Freedom in itself has no meaning, unless it is freedom FOR something, something creative - freedom to sculpt, freedom to dance, freedom to create music, poetry, painting. Unless your freedom turns into a creative realization, you will feel sad. Because you will see that you are free - your chains are broken, and you are no longer in prison; you are standing under the starry night, completely free. But where do you go?...

...Up to now there was no question of going anywhere-you were imprisoned. Your whole consciousness was concentrated on how to get free, and that was your only anxiety. Now that you are free, a new kind of problem has to be encountered. What to do now that you are free?
Freedom itself does not mean anything unless you choose a creative path. Either you go deeper into meditation for self realization, or, if you have a certain kind of talent that has not been allowed to develop because of your fetters - you could not compose music because your hands were in chains...

...You have to become a creator. You have to find some creativity that fulfills your freedom; otherwise freedom is empty. You need either to create something to discover something, either bring your potential to actuality or go inwards to find yourself, but you need to do something with your freedom. Freedom only provides an opportunity for you; it is not the goal itself. It simply gives you the opportunity to do whatever you want to. When you are free and feeling sad, it is because you have not used this opportunity yet.
Meditation will do, music will do, sculpture, dancing, or love. But do something with your freedom; don't just idly by of you will become sad.
Freedom has to be a creative force in your life, not just a negative one. Now that you are no longer imprisoned, you find yourself standing free beneath the sky, but completely lost...
to be a seeker, a searcher, a creator, but very few people want to go on a pilgrimage, or go deeper into silences of the heart, or take the responsibility of love. The implications are great.
...Freedom is simply an opportunity to find... a true authentic individuality, and the joy in making the world around you a little better and more beautiful ...One who understands that freedom is nothing but an opportunity to make the world a little more beautiful, and to become a little more conscious, will not be sad"
Osho, "Freedom"