Guest guest Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 If the mind/brain is inert as the Advaitins hold then it is subject to the laws of material reality which are fixed. That is one aspect. However the brain/mind is pervaded by consciousness which is formless and free. Pervasion is an analogy of course, the reality is that everything is consciousness, consciousness is the being of everything. So the human being in his awareness of the world which involves making decisions experiences the tension between material determinism and the freedom of consciousness. It depends on what you identify with as your reality whether you feel bound or free. The question at issue is about the will. Not to belabour the point, we are bound in that the brain/mind apparatus that is the foundation of the will is inert, free in that the consciousness which makes this activity conscious to itself is eternally free. The sages recommend surrender as the key to the solution of this conflict. Best Wishes, Michael. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 advaitin , ombhurbhuva <ombhurbhuva wrote: > > If the mind/brain is inert as the Advaitins hold then it is subject to the > laws of material reality which are fixed. That is one aspect. However > the brain/mind is pervaded by consciousness which is formless and free. > Pervasion is an analogy of course, the reality is that everything is > consciousness, consciousness is the being of everything. So the human > being in his awareness of the world which involves making decisions > experiences the tension between material determinism and the freedom of > consciousness. It depends on what you identify with as your reality > whether you feel bound or free. > > The question at issue is about the will. Not to belabour the point, we > are bound in that the brain/mind apparatus that is the foundation of the > will is inert, free in that the consciousness which makes this activity > conscious to itself is eternally free. The sages recommend surrender as > the key to the solution of this conflict. > > Best Wishes, > Michael. > Michaelji, here is how I see it. Two positions 1. Consciousness is. 2. Consciousness is the being of everything (...pervades all) Discussion is regarding 2. If there is discussion, there is will. Faith in will precedes or accompanies recognition/assertion/analysis of fixed laws governing 'everything'. When 2 is transcended, will & law simultaneously cease to be real: 1. I am not sure Advaita contradicts this. For instance, in the other list, Vidyasankarji also gives a similar position: " Individual 'free will' is an illusion on the same level as the notion of the 'individual' itself. So long as there is a you vs. me in my mind, there is an 'individual' I and this 'I' has both destiny and will. So individual action is not a myth in and of itself; it is dependent upon the notion of the individual. " thollmelukaalkizhu (Reaction:Action)::(Will:Consciousness)::(Being:Self) Seen::Seeing::Seer This::Am::I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 Dear Friends, There is only One Will. That is God's Will. Your will is controlled by your mind and intellect. And they are actually not your's. They are only God's gift. Whatever you do every minute or even second, is determined by God. You do not have any control over them. What you can do is only Pray God ! Surrender ! With Best Regards, N.S. Parasuraman http://in.geocities.com/parasu41/index.html --- On Mon, 25/5/09, putranm <putranm wrote: putranm <putranm Re: Discussion on Free Will advaitin Monday, 25 May, 2009, 9:12 PM advaitin@ s.com, ombhurbhuva <ombhurbhuva@ ...> wrote: > > If the mind/brain is inert as the Advaitins hold then it is subject to the > laws of material reality which are fixed. That is one aspect. However > the brain/mind is pervaded by consciousness which is formless and free. > Pervasion is an analogy of course, the reality is that everything is > consciousness, consciousness is the being of everything. So the human > being in his awareness of the world which involves making decisions > experiences the tension between material determinism and the freedom of > consciousness. It depends on what you identify with as your reality > whether you feel bound or free. > > The question at issue is about the will. Not to belabour the point, we > are bound in that the brain/mind apparatus that is the foundation of the > will is inert, free in that the consciousness which makes this activity > conscious to itself is eternally free. The sages recommend surrender as > the key to the solution of this conflict. > > Best Wishes, > Michael. > Michaelji, here is how I see it. Two positions 1. Consciousness is. 2. Consciousness is the being of everything (...pervades all) Discussion is regarding 2. If there is discussion, there is will. Faith in will precedes or accompanies recognition/ assertion/ analysis of fixed laws governing 'everything' . When 2 is transcended, will & law simultaneously cease to be real: 1. I am not sure Advaita contradicts this. For instance, in the other list, Vidyasankarji also gives a similar position: " Individual 'free will' is an illusion on the same level as the notion of the 'individual' itself. So long as there is a you vs. me in my mind, there is an 'individual' I and this 'I' has both destiny and will. So individual action is not a myth in and of itself; it is dependent upon the notion of the individual. " thollmelukaalkizhu (Reaction:Action) ::(Will:Consciou sness): Being:Self) Seen::Seeing: :Seer This::Am::I Own a website.Get an unlimited package.Pay next to nothing.*Go to http://in.business./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 25, 2009 Report Share Posted May 25, 2009 You have expressed beautifully Michael. PraNams Hari Om! Sadananda --- On Mon, 5/25/09, ombhurbhuva <ombhurbhuva wrote: > > The question at issue is about the will. Not to > belabour the point, we > are bound in that the brain/mind apparatus that is the > foundation of the > will is inert, free in that the consciousness which makes > this activity > conscious to itself is eternally free. The sages > recommend surrender as > the key to the solution of this conflict. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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