It would be alarming to see people walking around with cages full of birds in North America and Europe. But throughout Asia, this is a regular sight, especially around temples and sacred places. For the right price, you can free one of these birds, only for it to be later caught and sold again.
The concept of freeing birds has spiritual and cultural roots throughout Asia. We’ll dive into why these cultures have a freeing birds practice. And we’ll discuss the ethical and spiritual concerns surrounding it.
Freeing birds is also a prevalent topic here in the Western world. While we usually don’t see caged birds out in public, there is still a nefarious, underground, illegal bird trade occurring. This knowledge may make you want to free every caged bird you see. However, I’ll explain why that isn’t the best course of action and how you can “free birds” in a safer, indirect way.
Releasing Karma: Freeing Birds for Spiritual Liberation
Birds are deeply symbolic. Cultures across the world weave birds into myths and use them as symbols to represent liberation and innocence.
The practice of freeing birds in Eastern cultures is a living symbol. It represents a deeper spiritual significance. In this practice, a person pays the bird seller for the price of one or more birds. Then, they release the bird with their own hands. By freeing the bird, they believe some of their karma is also freed. This practice is especially prevalent in Hindu and Buddhist religions.
While the intention is seemingly honorable, the reality of the situation is much less so. People capture these wild birds, then sell them, and then recapture the birds again. This cycle undoubtedly causes the birds extreme stress. It also increases their chance of injury and death.
Now, that’s easy for me to say as an American citizen who loves birds and advocates for animal rights. While it’s obvious to me that this practice is unethical, that might not be recognized in these cultures. One reason is the practice’s spiritual significance. To make matters more complicated, those who capture and sell birds depend on the income to survive.
Most importantly, the local government and religious authorities must address this issue. As such, the most we can do is spread awareness and hope that change occurs within those cultures so the birds do not have to suffer.
Thankfully, there are individuals in these places who are against the practice. One example is Abdul Ghani, who spends his retirement freeing birds. Let’s hope that more local people recognize the harm of the practice and advocate to protect the birds.
A Deeper Look at The Spiritual Significance of Freeing Birds
Why is the practice of freeing birds so rooted in these cultures? Let’s look at this from a mystical perspective using traditional Hindu and Buddhist beliefs.
The cage symbolizes our human consciousness, ego, or mayaic delusion. The bird within the cage represents our soul or highest self. Our human consciousness/ego enshrouds our soul. Because of this, we believe this mortal human form is all that we are, and our focus is fixed on material reality. Thus, we are bound to karmic law, which keeps our souls tied to this earthly realm. As such, the cage surrounding the soul also represents karma.
The human soul experiences true liberation by breaking free from the cage of ego consciousness or mayaic delusion. Thus, freeing the bird represents freeing the soul from the cage of illusion.
Yet, the irony of the freeing birds practice is that it contradicts the path of soul liberation. If we look beneath the surface of religious dogma, we see a universal belief. This belief is that self-liberation is an internal process. It is a journey of turning our attention away from material reality and focusing it on our internal reality. In doing so, we come into contact with our soul and experience Self-realization.
From a mystical perspective, the physical act of freeing birds cannot replace an individual’s conscious effort to experience true soul liberation. In fact, the practice contradicts two fundamental spiritual beliefs. One is to not put one’s trust or security in material reality. The second is to love all beings and recognize that the same life force energy connects us.
Freeing birds from cages symbolizes an internal experience. I hope those who practice freeing birds for spiritual liberation recognize that true freedom comes from within.
The Problem with Freeing Birds in the West
In continents such as Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, poachers are illegally capturing exotic birds. Many are then sold on the black market in the United States and Europe. Sometimes, they are even sold at pet stores.
Even in situations where companion birds are legally bred and raised in captivity, the conditions are often poor. (Of course, I’m sure there are trustworthy breeders out there.)
For those of us who are sensitive to animal welfare, it could make us think freeing birds is the best course of action. Cages inhibit birds from their natural instincts, which are to fly and move freely. As such, to see birds in cages is often sad and unnatural.
However, freeing birds that are imported or raised in captivity is likely never the best choice. To start, the caged birds are usually not native to the area. It is illegal to release non-native birds or wildlife in the United States, and I’m sure there are similar laws in Europe.
Because the birds are not native to the area, they may not be adapted to the climate or know where food supplies are. In the wild, the parents teach the fledglings how to locate food and stay safe from predators. Birds raised in captivity do not have this knowledge to the same degree.
Plus, the majority of companion birds are flock birds that depend on the flock for safety and locating food. Freeing birds that are not local to the area probably won’t help them to survive. This is because they don’t have a flock to join or know where to locate food. And, given the confusion of being in an unknown environment, they are easy prey for predators.
How to Support Freeing Birds
One of the best ways to support freeing birds is to report suspicious people selling birds online. In these cases, the authorities can investigate the situation. Hopefully, they can release the birds back into their native habitat.
If you want a companion bird, it is best to adopt one from a local shelter rather than buy one from a pet store. People often don’t realize how much work it is to care for birds, so many are given up for adoption.
Considering this, it is imperative to thoroughly research how to best care for the bird species you want. One of the best ways to give a companion bird a good life is to let it out of its cage often and for long periods.
The Nuance of Freeing Birds
The concept of freeing birds has a different meaning depending on where you’re at in the world. In Asia, it is most often associated with people selling caged birds to release karma. Throughout the Western world, it represents the illegal bird trade and the controversy of keeping birds as pets.
Both issues point to the fact that birds represent a freedom we humans can’t fully understand. With the amazing ability to fly, birds live a life without containment or restriction. As such, there is a moral dilemma in seeing a caged bird, for containment is against the bird’s nature.
Freeing birds is a complex topic with deep spiritual and cultural roots. What are your thoughts on the freeing birds practice in Asian cultures? How do you feel about keeping pets as companion birds? Let’s keep the conversations open and friendly while sharing our perspectives.
