Do We Actually Have Free Will? 2

(This is in answer to a question; incidentally, if a comment doesn’t come up immediately,
it’s because I haven’t been notified to acknowledge it yet.)

Free will: the ability to choose unimpededly.

Firstly, we have to get the order of perception right. Before anything is seen, there first has to be the ability to see – an eye. Eyes just see – they do not know. What is it that sees through the eye? It is consciousness. But because consciousness sees through a haze of mind products/memories, its clear seeing is obscured. This is especially so when we cling to memories. Consciousness doesn’t just see; it interprets through these memories which have become the basis of our understanding. We see no further, and this is the reason why we are dissatisfied and suffer.

This creates a habitual reaction – our version of reality – and it is that which we call free will. Actual free will, however, was a few stages back, not in ordinary consciousness but in pure consciousness, which the final and first observer but which we ignore. This is the basis of what the ancient scriptures call ‘ignorance’, or maybe the origin of sin. 🙂

Choice means making a decision based on our understanding. That isn’t free will; that is doing what we want according to our personal agenda.

There is, however, that which precedes free will, and is present before a choice is made.
That is unimpeded pure consciousness, free of judgements and prior to decisions.

Judgement is done in the mind, due to the level or limitations of our understanding.
If our free will denies others’ free will, this is a misjudgement resulting from an incorrect assessment.

When we can drop the ideas stored in our memory-box-mind, we see without the habitual hinderance of old thoughts (which are usually others’ thoughts). This is achieved through realising that consciousness (where observation comes from) actually has no thoughts. It is that which is unimpeded. When we step outside the door to see whether it’s warm or cool, there is that which is present before the decision is made. That is consciousness.

This is only acknowledged in the clarity of still silence of meditation – silent awareness – where we can realise clearly that we are not our thoughts. We are that which is observing them. Pure consciousness.

The mind is a library of limited experiences/filters that consciousness sees through. This mind can either be used as a personal entertainment centre, running in circles for personal gain, or to express the qualities of experiencing pure consciousness in empathetic compassion to inspire others to realise their true reality.

At the very least, we do no harm.