Peace of Mind: Of Freedom, Fate And Free Will

By SRI AUROBINDO

We seem to be free, to do that which we choose and not that which is chosen for us; but possibly, the freedom may be illusory; in fact, it may be bondage.

We may be bound by predestination, the will of a Supreme Intelligent Power, or blind inexorable Nature, or the necessity of our own previous development.

The first is the answer of the devout and submissive mind in its dependence on God, but, this does not exclude the permission of freedom to the individual. The second is the answer of the scientist; heredity determines our Nature, the laws of Nature limit our action, cause and effect compel the course of our development, and, our own actions are determined by previous causes over which we have no control.

It is believed that there is no Fate except insistent causality - another name for Law - itself only an instrument in the hands of Nature for the satisfaction of the spirit. We call it Dharma, that by which the action of the universe, its parts and the individual is held together. This is Karma/ work/action/energy in play. Dharma or Law is action as decided by the nature of the thing in which action takes place - swabhava-niyatam karma. Each individual, group, species, even the universe, has a swabhava or nature and acts according to it. Each man has a distinct nature of his own and that is his law of being - but beyond and above these minor laws is the great dharma of the universe which provides that certain previous karma or action must lead to certain new karma or results.

The whole of causality may be defined as previous action leading to subsequent action, Karma and Karma-phal. The Hindu theory is that thought and feeling, as well as actual speech or deeds, are part of Karma and create effects...

If there is no escape from the Law, if Nature is supreme, there can be no salvation; freedom becomes a chimera, bondage eternal - unless there is something within us which is free and superior to Nature - the spirit ever free, one in essence with the Supreme Soul of the Universe.

The spirit does not act, it is Nature that contains the action. If the spirit acted, it would be bound by its action. It is Prakriti, Nature, which determines the swabhava of things and is the source and condition of Law. The soul or Purusha holds up the swabhava, watches and enjoys the action and its fruit, sanctions the law. It is Ishwar without whose consent nothing can be done by Prakriti. But Ishwar is above the law and free.

It is this power of sanction that forms the element of free will in our lives... Will is what moves the world and Fate is merely a process by which Will fulfils itself.

But in order to feel its mastery of Nature, the human soul must put itself into communion with the infinite and universal Spirit, its will becoming one with the universal Will. While the soul is one with the universal Spirit, the body stands unconnected, because a certain freedom is permitted it, in order that the swabhava of things may be diversely developed in different bodies. In using this freedom the soul may do it ignorantly or knowingly.

If it uses it ignorantly, it is not really free, for ignorance brings with it the illusion of enslavement to Nature. Used knowingly, the freedom of the soul becomes one with surrender to the universal Will... An inert stone is a passive sport of natural laws, God is their Master. Man stands between these two extreme terms and moves upward from one to the other.

( From 'The Karmayogin' )

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See also: Peace of Mind, Peace on Earth, Life and Beyond, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul

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