The Freedom To Be Free – Or Not

In the Buddhist view we each have to take responsibility for ourselves. We cannot expect the Buddha to bless us out of our suffering. For example, Devadatta was born in hell before the Buddha’s very eyes and the Buddha couldn’t stop it from happening. We each experience the results of our own actions. 

What the buddhas and lamas can do is show us what to do if we do not want to suffer. They can show us the path to freedom: what we should and shouldn’t do if we want to be free. Whether we follow their guidance or not is up to us.

As Buddha Shakyamuni once said:

I have shown you the methods 

That lead to liberation

But you should understand

That liberation depends upon yourself.