Matthew:

Thanks a lot for putting it so beautifully into words!

DocM wrote on Nov 10^th, 2011 at 7:44am:


I know the same from meditation.
In spontaneity there is no duality of free will or no free will, there are no dualistic thoughts.
The concept of free will needs ego as its basis.
When ego is absent, then no concept of free will exists.
I tend to believe that ego is a temporary construct, conducive to development of a personality, an individuality, in a certain phase of evolution. In the next phase of evolution, the ego construct is no longer needed.

Here's another thought:

If as some people on this thread contend there is no free will, then it is very possible that nobody is presenting a viewpoint that represents actual wisdom, because each of us is presenting nothing more than a conditioned response.

I say this with the thought that there can't be a such thing as "true wisdom" if all we are capable of is a conditioned thought.

On the other hand, if we forget about what the so-called wisdom masters say, and don't limit ourselves to a part of mind that considers the cause and effect conundrum, we might be able to see what our experience tells us. Perhaps we'll notice that when we do something such as respond to a difficult situation, if we allow ourselves to, we can decide according to what best serves the situation, rather than according to an inappropriate pattern of mind that comes from a place such as our self-defense instinct.

Another point I believe is well worth making is that just because we can meditate in a way where we can experience what our awareness aspect of self is like before it causes anything to become manifest, this doesn't mean that this part of self represents the totality of who we are.  The ability to love, learn and decide is just as much a part of who we are as the part of ourself that is aware. In order to be a fully functioning being we need each part.  Since each part is a part of who we are,  each part is real.

I've known of numerous people who became so enamored with the awareness part of self, that they end up feeling as if they have to deny the other parts of themselves in order to embrace the awareness part of self. This is a big mistake.  We don't obtain one part of self by pushing away and denying other parts of self.  It is more about where our heart is. The more we choose a love-based approach to life, the more we'll find that it is impossible to be seperated from our divine self, even if we make use of our mind and creative aspects of being, and acknowledge our uniqueness.

We don't need a blank state of mind in order to know ourself. We can't become aware of awareness, but we can know about love. We use our awareness to experience love. We especially experience love when we "DECIDE" to "CHOOSE" love. Perhaps this duality, and even more dualities, are okay.

Oliver:

Thank you for clarifying. Good egg analogy.