Free Will.

[lemex]

Originally Posted by Jared.L

I think that free will is an illusion as our behavior is determined by the past experience mot of the time.

In terms of behavior can free-will be known.

Is there any example any can give in the situation.

What if the role of the experience that determined behavior and it's cause and it's affect becomes known, and the mind let go of that attachment of experience, is free-will still just an illusion always in the experience of merely a now. We do what now dictates.

There was once an experience of now which affected behavior, now there is an experience of now that affects behavior. Obviously this is based on a linear form. Obviously change isn't being considered and change (making a decision based on information) was the basic rule I have used.

Behavior follows behavior. The rules of the universe obviously don't allow full change. But wonders, does change evidence free will or change does not exist, only now does?

[Cherrish]

Originally Posted by Jyotir

Hi celest,

It is both - not either/or - as a conditional basis of an individual evolution of consciousness.

Yes - we absolutely do have free will, and a cursory observation of one's own life will demonstrate this.

But this free will has limitations and also as such, is influenced by forces which are part and parcel of our individuated existence - both divine and undivine - the same way we are part and parcel of That which Is and includes All - including that which is undivine, or anti-divine, or 'evil'.

Free will doesn't necessarily imply omnipotence as often many replies to this generic question seem to assume, especially because a conditionally limited consciousness necessarily embodies a limited will. True omnipotence (all power) is native to All-Consciousness.

What is implied by free will (for spiritual purposes) is the option to increasingly and more consciously choose what is divine or what is progressive in that orientation vs. an unconscious assent to natural forces which are predominated by ignorance.

It is the unconscious assent to those ignorant forces (including, but especially within us) which create the appearance of 'no free will', but this is the mistake of a similarly limited cognition based in that very same ignorance.


~ J

Well said Jyotir! In essence, stating we have no free will is a confession to feelings of powerlessness. Conversely, stating we have free will is indicative of a mental position of openness - regardless of it's accuracy.

And I agree, free will is often confused with omnipotence, but it most assuredly is not. We inhabit a shared universe, therefore there is a lot of give and take in influence. Because of this shared power scheme, there is a lot of complexity in influencing any outcome - but free will, we definitely have.