No. There is no individual "will' to make choices. And it's not determinism either because that relies on a separate entity which is only an illusion. If determinism sounds unpleasant, and freewill sounds right, that means you are under the illusion of a separate self.
Michael King Neither one feels right, but I will lean more towards Koestler's idea of a Holon than suggesting that something else is responsible for generating what I think. Even if a monistic mind is even remotely true, we know that we are practically accountable for our actions within an intersubjective, "reality". Abstractions only go so far in a physical and pragmatically oriented reality, especially in a culture that requires of us what it does for "survival". At some point, individuals will interact and require a response or a reaction - unless they choose not to. "Even if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice". - Neil Peart
Victoria Codella Even though no one is responsible for anything and no one is to blame there are still consequences for our actions. We want put a serial killer in jail not because we are angry or morally judging them but because no one wants a murderer on the loose! So practical life works just fine. Every situation I have considered in this way seems to anyway. Thanks for the Rush quote. I'm seeing them in June for the first time in 20 years. Should be fun.
Michael King guess I am not really clear on what you are trying to say exactly about a lack of individual accountability. As it stands though, I am pretty sure I disagree. Yes there is nothing "happening" in a nondual understanding of reality, but if people perceive society in a specific way and deem that law and order are necessary in order to navigate reality, then these systems will periodically need revamping in order to make them more conducive to a collective understanding of nondual existence (as more people come to this type of epiphany/enlightenment/whatever you prefer to call it). Hopefully that makes sense. In other words, discourse and accountability will be necessary in many cases, which requires a scrutiny of peoples' choices sometimes, usually after the fact. For instance, law is enacted usually after a problem arises, not as a prohibitive measure, and many people feel passionately when law impedes upon personal freedoms and preferential choices for how to behave in one's life, which attitudes to hold, etc. Through these processes of accountability, we come closer to a collective nondual realization in consciousness, as well as whatever may lie beyond.
Lovely - thank you. I love Francis Lucille, his reminders are potent.
So, people who make poor health choices that lead to heart disease didn't choose that? Everything is freewill.
No. There is no individual "will' to make choices. And it's not determinism either because that relies on a separate entity which is only an illusion. If determinism sounds unpleasant, and freewill sounds right, that means you are under the illusion of a separate self.
Michael King Neither one feels right, but I will lean more towards Koestler's idea of a Holon than suggesting that something else is responsible for generating what I think. Even if a monistic mind is even remotely true, we know that we are practically accountable for our actions within an intersubjective, "reality". Abstractions only go so far in a physical and pragmatically oriented reality, especially in a culture that requires of us what it does for "survival". At some point, individuals will interact and require a response or a reaction - unless they choose not to. "Even if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice". - Neil Peart
Victoria Codella Even though no one is responsible for anything and no one is to blame there are still consequences for our actions. We want put a serial killer in jail not because we are angry or morally judging them but because no one wants a murderer on the loose! So practical life works just fine. Every situation I have considered in this way seems to anyway. Thanks for the Rush quote. I'm seeing them in June for the first time in 20 years. Should be fun.
Michael King guess I am not really clear on what you are trying to say exactly about a lack of individual accountability. As it stands though, I am pretty sure I disagree. Yes there is nothing "happening" in a nondual understanding of reality, but if people perceive society in a specific way and deem that law and order are necessary in order to navigate reality, then these systems will periodically need revamping in order to make them more conducive to a collective understanding of nondual existence (as more people come to this type of epiphany/enlightenment/whatever you prefer to call it). Hopefully that makes sense. In other words, discourse and accountability will be necessary in many cases, which requires a scrutiny of peoples' choices sometimes, usually after the fact. For instance, law is enacted usually after a problem arises, not as a prohibitive measure, and many people feel passionately when law impedes upon personal freedoms and preferential choices for how to behave in one's life, which attitudes to hold, etc. Through these processes of accountability, we come closer to a collective nondual realization in consciousness, as well as whatever may lie beyond.