Is there such a thing as absolute freedom? What is your definition of freedom?

There are many conceptions of freedom in the world. Mostly, freedom is conceived of as freedom for the body and its culture. Usually such freedom is obtained by politics and war. But what’s the use of political or social freedom, since the body will soon be dead, anyway?

Absolute freedom means to be free from birth, death, old age, and disease. Absolute freedom can never be achieved in a material body. In fact, the material body is like a prison for the soul, keeping the soul ensnared by Maya; keeping the soul entrapped in samsara - the ocean of birth and death.

Real freedom is release from Maya, the illusion of the material world - the illusion of love for family, friends, and society.

The only way to get liberation from Maya is by Krishna’s mercy.

Krishna says:

But a person free from all attachment and aversion and able to control his senses through regulative principles of freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord. —Bg 2.64

Srila Prabhupada explains:

It is already explained that one may externally control the senses by some artificial process, but unless the senses are engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord, there is every chance of a fall.

Although the person in full Krishna consciousness may apparently be on the sensual plane, because of his being Krishna conscious he has no attachment to sensual activities. The Krishna conscious person is concerned only with the satisfaction of Krishna, and nothing else.

Therefore he is transcendental to all attachment and detachment. If Krishna wants, the devotee can do anything which is ordinarily undesirable; and if Krishna does not want, he shall not do that which he would have ordinarily done for his own satisfaction.

Therefore to act or not to act is within his control because he acts only under the direction of Krishna. This consciousness is the causeless mercy of the Lord, which the devotee can achieve in spite of his being attached to the sensual platform.