Guest guest Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Dear Teachers and Fellow Advaitins on this list, Pranams: I recently came across a quotation from Ramana Maharshi about free will that aroused some theoretical doubts within the mind, it goes as follows: Question: Has man any freewill or is everything in his life predestined and preordained? Bhagavan: Freewill holds the field in association with individuality. As long as individuality lasts, so long there is freewill. All the sastras are based on this fact, and they advise directing the freewill in the right channel. Find out to whom freewill or destiny matters. Abide in it. Then these two are transcended. That is the only purpose of discussing these questions. To whom do these questions arise? Find out and be at peace. (Talk June 12, 1937 from Tals with Ramana Maharshi) I thought that the jiva does not have any freewill, since it cannot be the controller of anything happening outside or inside, since basically... it, the ego, does not exist anyway. This is also my experience. So after reading these lines (especially the first paragraph) something does not quite fit this picture. I know also that the second paragraph is where we have to focus... but nevertheless, there was a desition of asking if any of you would be kind enough to address this question of freewill in relation to " individuality " ... All thoughts on this topic (or reference to older posts where this topic was discussed) are welcome. Thanks in advance, Yours in Dharma, Mouna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Dear Mouna, The most important thing one should remember when interpreting Talks is that the Maharshi’s replies were always to the particular questioner and his stage in the spiritual practice .From curious visitors to advanced sadhaks visited him and his replies varied on the same subject. His written reply to his mother when she pleaded him to come home is quite different. :- €œIn accordance with the prarabdha of each, the One whose function it is to ordain makes each to act. What will not happen will never happen, whatever effort one may put forth. And what will happen will not fail to happen, however much one may seek to prevent it. This is certain. The part of wisdom therefore is to stay quiet. "  Similarly a devotee ( is it Sri Balaramareddy?) asked whether only major events in one's life are only destined or minor events like his now going into another room to switch off alight were also destined, Maharshi replied such things were also destined. What Maharshi mentioned in the question under reference is I think apparent freedom. So long as there is a belief that there is a doer there is apparent freedom. The so called actions of our free will are actually willed by Him. Ramana sarma On 8/30/07, Mouna <maunna wrote: > > Dear Teachers and Fellow Advaitins on this list, Pranams: > > I recently came across a quotation from Ramana Maharshi about free > will that aroused some theoretical doubts within the mind, it goes as > follows: > Question: Has man any freewill or is everything in his life > predestined and preordained? > Bhagavan: Freewill holds the field in association with > individuality. As long as individuality lasts, so long there is > freewill. All the sastras are based on this fact, and they advise > directing the freewill in the right channel. > Find out to whom freewill or destiny matters. Abide in it. Then > these two are transcended. That is the only purpose of discussing > these questions. To whom do these questions arise? Find out and be at > peace. > (Talk June 12, 1937 from Tals with Ramana Maharshi) > > I thought that the jiva does not have any freewill, since it cannot be > the controller of anything happening outside or inside, since > basically... it, the ego, does not exist anyway. This is also my > experience. So after reading these lines (especially the first > paragraph) something does not quite fit this picture. I know also that > the second paragraph is where we have to focus... but nevertheless, > there was a desition of asking if any of you would be kind enough to > address this question of freewill in relation to " individuality " ... > > All thoughts on this topic (or reference to older posts where this > topic was discussed) are welcome. > > Thanks in advance, > Yours in Dharma, > > Mouna > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 advaitin , " Mouna " <maunna wrote: > I thought that the jiva does not have any freewill, since it cannot be > the controller of anything happening outside or inside, since > basically... it, the ego, does not exist anyway. This is also my > experience. So after reading these lines (especially the first > paragraph) something does not quite fit this picture. I know also that > the second paragraph is where we have to focus... but nevertheless, > there was a desition of asking if any of you would be kind enough to > address this question of freewill in relation to " individuality " ... > > All thoughts on this topic (or reference to older posts where this > topic was discussed) are welcome. Namaste, Kindly check the follwoing link in which Sri chadrashEkara bhArati swamigal makes the advaitin's stand clear on the topic 'fate and free will' It is one of the best explanation I have ever come across. http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2004/4-6/56-57_sringeri.shtml This is what Swami Vivekananda had to say on this topic: Say, " This misery that I am suffering is of my own doing, and that very thing proves that it will have to be undone by me alone. " That which I created, I can demolish; that which is created by some one else I shall never be able to destroy. Therefore, stand up, be bold, be strong. Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders, and know that you are the creator of your own destiny. All the strength and succour you want is within yourselves. Therefore, make your own future. " Let the dead past bury its dead. " The infinite future is before you, and you must always remember that each word, thought, and deed, lays up a store for you and that as the bad thoughts and bad works are ready to spring upon you like tigers, so also there is the inspiring hope that the good thoughts and good deeds are ready with the power of a hundred thousand angels to defend you always and for ever. Yours in Sri Ramakrishna, Br. Vinayaka. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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