Royal Way Teaches Spiritual Freedom

Freedom is a core teaching in Royal Way. That begins with spiritual freedom—the freedom to explore, learn, seek. Today there are seemingly endless spiritual paths and pursuits available to anyone interested in spiritual growth. Many seekers don’t know where to focus and end up confused or overwhelmed by a mishmash of workshops, books, advertisements, tips, etc. As Royal Way founder Michael Gottlieb described it, “It has become virtually a spiritual supermarket.” 

But Michael makes it very clear: He wants anyone interested in the Royal Way teachings to understand that they have complete spiritual freedom to explore any avenue they are interested in. Complete spiritual freedom. 

Michael continues: “Read all you want. Go everywhere and to everyone. Taste everything you want to taste … but don’t linger too long. There is not that much time.” 

Once you’ve found a path that resonates with you, dive in! 

Why Freedom Is Crucial to Spiritual Growth 

So spiritual freedom is a key Royal Way teaching. Then, once a seeker decides—with complete freedom—to dive in to the Royal Way teachings, they learn that all aspects of freedom are significant to understand for those seeking higher consciousness. 

These fall into three major categories:

• Freedom to be ourselves, to empower ourselves

• Freedom for oneself: to do whatever we want, anytime we want to

• Freedom from oneself; from the ego-defined sense of self

“More than anything else, I talk about freedom,” Michael writes. “From freedom, I teach, flows all. Once you attain freedom, love happens, meditation happens, transcendence happens, deathlessness and eternity happen.” 

So freedom is crucial in the path toward self-discovery—but do we experience freedom in our daily life? 

“We need to understand that there are three types of freedom,” Michael writes. “The most primitive, at the base, is simply the freedom to empower ourselves, that there is no one—not a king, not a lord, not a prince, not anyone—ruling over us, telling us what we can and cannot do. In other words, it is the freedom from others, the freedom to be yourself—as you see things, as you feel about things.”  

This type of freedom—to empower ourselves—has been afforded to most of us and is essential to our daily living.

The second type of freedom—to do anything we feel like, anytime, anywhere—can be a trap. Michael cautions about that trap:

“The second freedom has more to do with oneself. It is not the freedom from others, it is the freedom for oneself: I want to do whatever I want to do. I want to eat whatever I want to eat. I want to smoke whatever I want to smoke….”

“This is the way many people interpret freedom,” he continues. “But the consequences tell us that this is not freedom, that more often than not, it is a road to self-destruction. 

“Fulfilling every desire, every time, is not freedom.” 

So how do we free ourselves from desire? 

That question brings us to the third freedom. “The third freedom is freedom from the self—not the true self, but the self we think we are. 

“To be able to free ourselves from desire is nirvana. That is the ultimate freedom.”

“When I speak of freedom from desire, I do not mean only lusts of the flesh, nor do I mean only emotional desires. I include mental desires, even spiritual desires. All desire is enslaving.

Mental desires include the many things our ego-mind tells us to do, whether it’s eating too much, being mean to someone, or stretching the truth. Michael explains: “The freedom to be able to say with total honesty, ‘I do not have to do anything I do not want to—not only when you are telling me to do something, but also when my ego-mind tells me to do something.’ To be able to say, ‘I am free of my ego-mind also’—that is the ultimate freedom. That is free will … real will … true will … free will.”

Where else can we pursue spiritual freedom and freedom from desire?

Freedom From the Mind

Royal Way teaches that our minds are just a tool, and that we—our essential divine selves—are not our minds. Identifying with our mind produces desire, jealousy, fear, and anxiety. It robs us of experiencing who we really are and prevents a sense of spiritual freedom. 

Michael says that when we drop our mind identification, “All our shackles and prisons drop away.” 

An example of mind identification is the habit of comparison.

For example, Michael writes, “Somebody has a better house, somebody has a more beautiful body, somebody has more money, somebody has a more charismatic personality. Compare, compare, compare.

“You go on comparing yourself with everybody, and great jealousy is the outcome.” 

This kind of mind process is self-destructive and prevents our experience of spiritual freedom. 

Michael reminds us that comparison is fruitless because everyone is an original. “God only creates originals.” He even suggests making that a mantra: “I am an original. I am an original.”  

“There is no need to be anybody else,” Michael adds. “Each and every one of you is unique and incomparable. Once this understanding settles in, jealousy disappears. Everyone is unique and incomparable. You are just yourself.” 

Again, when we can drop our mental baggage, such as the need to compare, we get in touch with how amazing and unique we really are.

“If you understand the uniqueness of who you are, you will feel immense gratitude for whatever God has given you. If you do not compare, then you are neither big nor small. You are neither ugly nor beautiful. You are neither intelligent nor stupid. If you do not compare, you are simply yourself.

“And in that state of simply being, flowers grow and you grow. Because a deep acceptance of life and a deep gratitude—these bring your spring, your growth.” 

How incredible to drop the mind and feel such gratitude for who we are. No mental noise. No negativity. No comparison. Just a deep appreciation for our selves. 

To reiterate:“When that happens, we become free. All our shackles and prisons drop away, and our true nature shines forth like a jewel.” 

That’s freedom. 

Conclusion 

• Royal Way teaches spiritual freedom. Everyone is free to explore any spiritual avenue that interests them.

• Those who devote themselves to the Royal Way teachings then learn the additional dimensions of freedom:

• Freedom from the self: the mind, desire, anxiety, fear, comparison, negativity, etc.

• Freedom from the mind, which brings love, abundance, joy, and gratitude.

• Dropping the shackles of the mind is an integral Royal Way teaching.

• Royal Wayans live joyous lives because they’ve dedicated themselves to dropping negative mind processes. They experience their authentic, original, beautiful selves.

• Be free to go and find all sorts of teachers, but once you find something that resonates with you, go all in!