FREEDOM

Freedom is independence from externals. One who is in need of help of another person, thing or condition, is a slave thereof. Perfect freedom is not given to any man on earth because the very meaning of mortal life is relationship with and dependence on one another. The lesser the number of wants, the greater is the freedom. Hence perfect freedom is absolute desirelessness.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba
October 20, 1979

(Letter to His students. From Prema Dhara, a collection of Swami's letters)