Free Will or Life is Like A Computer Game

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Free Will, i.e. freedom to decide or choose among alternatives, exists at

individual level only as a notion, just as individuality itself is only a

notion. There are the following points to be made:

 

1. We thing we make conscious decisions using our intellect. This is

not true. Intellect is only a consultant, not a decision maker. Decisions

are made by us (or rather for us) by some process and after it is brought to

our consciousness, the ego claims it as its own. Summarizing the challenges

facing science in the 21 st century for the Dec 1999 issue of Scientific

American, British scientist Dr. Maddox notes that "we do not know how

decisions are made".

 

2. There are scriptural declarations in Gita and Mandukya which seem

to suggest that decisions are made at the deepest level of our personality,

i.e anandamaya kosa - a level which is not accessible to mind and intellect.

Further, the same scriptures indicate that it is Ishwara's will which is

expressed at this level.

The anandamaya kosa is also possibly the source of intuition (or divine

revelations).

 

3. Law of Karma is not negated by the above views, nor is destiny

implied by Ishwara's will. His Will is His alone and cannot be in any sense

"pre-destined". We are actors in His play following His script; He writes

the script even as the play is progressing.

 

4. Interactive computer games perhaps provide a more appropriate

paradigm than stage plays for the happenings of the world. A computer game,

to be interesting, should have a mix of predictable and unpredictable events

and ample opportunity for making decisions of some consequence. If we are

not aware of the kid who is punching the keyboard buttons or pulling the joy

stick but only see the computer screen, what transpires on the screen is very

much like the way life looks to us! Events happen, some according to a

discernible pattern and some randomly; the characters appear to be

exercising free will and suffering the consequences of their choices. The

intelligent ones among them even appear to learn, evolve and prosper.

 

But unlike the kid who is only a player of the game, Ishwara plays this game

that He himself created. The game is for His amusement, but there is ample

suggestion in our scriptures that He plays the game so that in the end all

characters are returned safe and sound. He is a competent and compassionate

player!

 

- Raju Chidambaram