Saturday, 7 April 2012
The Illusion of Free Will
What we choose to do is determined by factors
over which we have no control, namely our genetics and our past life
experiences. The sense
of having a choice makes the existence of a separate self seem real, but on
closer observation we see only the play of impersonal, universal forces. These forces “decide” what is, and we delude
ourselves into thinking we are in control by taking responsibility for what is
simply happening. Without our inner commentary,
it can be seen that everything is happening totally by itself, just as the body
breathes, the sun shines and the birds sing.
Despite all our effort and worry, things are always just as they are. There is no separate self that can do
anything.
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Seems completely true to me. I must share though that my teachers say the same thing AND they say if you are not experiencing this level of consciousness - the one of no separate self - then reliance on this truth can become a spiritual bypass and create a lot of karma from not taking responsibility for our actions in life. The level of consciousness most of humanity currently lives in is one of cause and effect - our choices and decisions do impact our life and others lives and living responsibly in that understanding can increase or decrease our personal karma tremendously. We too will become ancestors and influence what comes for the next seven generations.
ReplyDeleteQuite a paradox yes?