Institutions

To me, institutions are prisons. They not only inhibit people from making free decisions, but they also prescribe a certain way of thinking or acting. Since I believe that compulsion goes against the fundamental nature of human beings to make free and uncoerced decisions, I see institutions as generally a bad thing. To me, they are merely vehicles for people to exercise their lust for power by corralling others to follow their prescriptions.

So you can understand my point a little better, let’s examine the dictionary.com definition of an institution:

1. The act of instituting
2.
a. A custom, practice, relationship, or behavioral pattern of importance in the life of a community or society: the institutions of marriage and the family
b. Informal. One long associated with a specified place, position, or function
3.
a. An established organization or foundation, especially one dedicated to education, public service, or culture
b. The building or buildings housing such an organization
c. A place for the care of persons who are destitute, disabled, or mentally ill

The definitions give the general impression that an institution is a custom, a practice, or a behavioral pattern. Giving presents during ascribed holidays. Saying “I’m sorry” or “I love you” when you mean something else. Saying a prayer but not focusing on the words. Ascribing to a religion but not practicing its doctrine. Marriage. Subcultures. Traditions. Routines. Addictions. Labels. These, their derivatives, and many others, are all institutions.

Notice that the final definition of an institution is a place for the “destitute, disabled, or mentally ill.” This means two things. The first is that institutions are absolutely necessary for those who fit one of these three and the second is that anyone who is not one of the three does not need an institution. I began this article by saying institutions are generally a bad thing and this group of people is the exception to the rule. People with actual problems should go to an institution. Heck, even people who don’t fit one of the three can join an institution once in a while. We don’t want to think all the time, let the institution do it. Why draft up a better agreement when the institution already hammered out the best possible plan? If you know you don’t want to have sex with different people and want the bond of holy matrimony, then by all means get married. But understand that the institutions you join do place responsibilities and a failure to uphold them makes institutions very unhappy. So if you do them, do them by the rules. Otherwise, you must forge your own path ahead and be totally open-minded to everything that comes your way. That is what being free from an institute means: free from any preconceived notions and a full use of your capable, rational, intelligent mind.

To me, institutions are anything that traps a person from making a free, unfettered, and purposeful decision and the reason why that’s bad is because the ability to consider and choose determines the actual ethical quality of an individual. See, an institution takes away the individual’s ability to choose, thereby nullifying any moral intention behind the person’s actions. In other words, the ethical quality of the elements of which we are constituted (soul, heart, and body), the faculties by which we are characterized (perception, intelligence, and imagination) and the actions we produce are determined only by the guidance our conscience gives them. This means that the human conscience must be as unique and solitary as the physical vessel that carries it.

But why is a high ethical conscience even important? Because only this standard has the capability to raise the individual above blood, self-interest, or clans and will ensure self-reliance and responsibility to no one but themselves. You will never have to partake in anyone else’s untruthfulness, treachery, injustice, or oppression, even if it’s your family, friends, or coworkers that are corrupting your character.

But more importantly, shunning institutions and practicing true individuality brings complete confidence in one’s awareness and recognition of treasures that are not visible to people who are caught in the prisons of institutions. A fish that lives in an aquarium and has never seen the vast expanse of the ocean cannot understand what real freedom is. Furthermore, treasure is not found in populated areas. It is found in barren and remote places. If treasure was accessible to the masses then it wouldn’t be treasure would it? It would just be ordinary.

I’m not saying we can do without institutions or that they’re inherently bad. What I am saying is most people don’t need institutions, meaning customs and behavioral patterns, but they bring various ones upon themselves needlessly by blindly following established norms and never experience the excitement of real freedom. Thankfully, people who follow institutions don’t necessarily cause harm to those who don’t which means it’s no sweat off my back if you don’t heed my advice. But my purpose in sharing this with those of you who do is not to condemn you (you’ve already done that to yourself), but to liberate you. Use your brain in the capacity that it was made: weigh the options, decide on a path. Let every experience be an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the world around you. Because that’s what this life is all about.