Someone once wrote that “the success or failure of a democracy lies in its system of education”.

The concept of freedom must be an inner ideal which imparts strength to our character and daily activities. Valuing freedom is the only way of attaining the Wisdom of which we as occultists should be enamoured. This right should be accorded to our friends and enemies alike.

But what is freedom? The ability to move around unrestrained? However true, physical impediments are only an outward loss of movement. Far worse is the psychologically captive. Being a mental slave is far worse, for the psychologically imprisoned are afraid to think for themselves. And what is valid for the microcosm must also be applied to the macrocosm. When faced with socio, economic and political problems the collective is tempted to relinquish their personal liberties. They become passive, through repeated conflicts and the struggle to survive. They desist and surrender all to some power allowing it to think for them. The society we live in, the nation we are part of, can also enjoy freedom and suffer through the lack of it. Political freedom does not necessarily mean true freedom; not until it has been tested.

How do we educate our young to protect themselves against the servile surrender to those powers? They must be encouraged to develop discrimination, to recognise the danger signs and to put themselves in the safe. Madame Blavatsky wrote that a proper and sane system of education should produce the most liberal and vigorous minds, strictly trained in logic, accurate thought and in not falling prey to blind faith.
We need teachers who will kindle liberty in the hearts of our children; intellectual, moral, unprejudiced, unselfish and respectful principles, so that they can look after themselves intellectually, morally, spiritually, avoiding the destructive tendencies and fads of our times and of being deceived, way-laid and exploited. They should be taught to recognize the truth, evolving into self-reliant, responsible adults, folk of integrity and honest citizens of our Republic.

Liberty