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Do you really have free will?

Let me start with '"What is free will?". Free will is our ability to view a life situation, analyse the possible right and wrong actions or thoughts and consciously perform action or think what you feel right. On a simpler sense, it is the ability and freedom of human mind to choose what he/she feels right. This explanation may not be perfect but I believe this gave you an idea.

It is generally understood that unlike animals, human beings have free will. Animals respond to situations in an instinctive manner, for instance, if they find food they would jump on it and eat; if they find danger they may attack. So, they have limited ability to choose their action. However, there could be creatures with higher levels of free will.

As we understand it, do we really have free will?. Try self introspection on your last few days or months. Did you always chose what you felt right. I am quite sure you had numerous instances where you absolutely knew that something is right but you chose or did something else. This happened to me as well on multiple occasions and it continues to happen. Let us think about few examples. 

  • One day you decided not to gossip on others, but something within you doesn't allow you to stop gossiping!
  • Someone addicted to drugs is aware that it gives only temporary euphoria and its destroying them. However, they aren't able to stop themselves!
  • You learnt from few mistakes in the past and continue making the same mistakes, knowing that you are committing a mistake. You couldn't stop yourselves!

Quoting a snippet of conversation between Duryodhana and Sri Krishna in the Bhagavat Gita, Duryodhana says "I know I am not doing the right thing by fighting this battle and shedding blood, but I am unable to stop myself". Because of this, even Krishna couldn't stop  him. Does it mean that there is an invisible force controlling you which doesn't allow you to do what you feel right. This appears to be something beyond explanation. Even today there are scientific debates on "Is free will an illusion?". Thus, I feel you are partially in control of yourselves, but never fully.

Few possible explanations to this may be derived from the Vedantas of Hindu philosophy. One such explanation is that your Karmic bondage plays a part in the level of free will you have. There could be many other explanations as well. May be I will write about the other possible explanations and ways to enhance free will in a future post😊.

For now, just ask yourselves, "Do I really have free will?" I am signing off leaving this open ended question to you!


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