What exactly is freedom ??

Freedom is defined as "the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint "

How often are we physically free yet not free. How often are we so tied down mentally. It makes me wonder how exactly does one be free ? Freedom maybe momentary but i still dont know what it means to experience freedom.

Does freedom mean not having restrictions or is it just being free to do everything you desire to do ? But how often is it practically possible to do all that we want to do without abandoning the responsibilities and commitments we have in our lives , like job.. family.. etc etc...

My dad told me once " One may not always be able to only that what he/she wants in life, sometimes we have to make certain sacrifices for our loved ones", we are not independant beings our lives are dependant on others and others on ours there is a link, does being free mean abandoning that link ?

Deep inside my heart i want to experience freedom, i want my heart.. my mind.. and my body to be free.. I wonder what i would have to abandon if i was to start a quest for freedom...

Religion and Spirituality ..

Thoughts about religion have been pondering my mind over a long time now.. Why do people actually follow a certain religion ??

Having been born a brahmin i was raised with religion and religious practices being a part of life, and also the "do's and dont's of religion" . I wonder who made these rules and why people just blindly started accepting them without thinking why it was implemented. I always found myself defiant to accept beliefs without reasons, and the concept of 'god-fearing' has never impressed me.

It makes me wonder if people believe in God because they fear God ? Does religion and religious practices make people fear God ? I have always been of the belief that we should love God and not fear God, and over these years i have also come to a belief that the Religion of God is love. I dont know if i don believe in my religion or any other religions, but i know that i dont feel much interest in religion as a whole.

This is where another thought arises, is not believing in religion same as not believing in God ? Is religion same as spirituality ? Can't someone who is not religious be spiritual.

I am not religious but i am spiritual, i believe only in God and in his love. It makes me wonder if we can feel the power and love of God without following a religion .