What are Buddhist views about free will? Does the concept of free will vs determinism even apply? Is it a question with a wrong assumption?
Upvote:1
Free Will. Someone might say: "If all phenomena are conditionally arisen, then Buddhism is a form of fatalism, for we have no free will to control our destiny." Such a statement would not be correct. Will is volition (cetanaa), a mental state, determined ethically by its root condition (hetu paccaya). If the root is unwholesome, we can either restrain or indulge the volition; if the root is wholesome, we can encourage it or neglect it. In this exercise of will lies our freedom to guide our destiny.
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mendis/wheel322.htmlThis is how there's free will in the midst of causality. At the same time, the pattern in the way intentions lead to results allows us to learn from past mistakes. This freedom within a pattern opens the way to a path of mental training that can lead to the end of suffering. We practice generosity, virtue, and meditation to learn the power of our intentions and in particular to see what happens as our intentions grow more skillful, so skillful that present intentions actually stop. Only when they stop can you prove for yourself how powerful they've been. And the spot where they stop is where the unconditioned β the end of suffering β is found. From there you can return to intentions, but you're no longer their captive or slave.
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/faithinawakening.html
Upvote:1
To put it in simplest terms free will arises , changes and vanishes. You should therefore realize free will is not mine, I am not free will , free will is not my self. Having said that you devote yourself to finding the root cause of suffering and eliminating it.
More post
- π Irritation due to breathing noises in dojo
- π Don't teach Dhamma to those who can't appreciate it or aren't interested
- π Fearful of Compassion
- π Can the change due to impermanence be considered intelligent?
- π A Buddhist Point of View of Virtual Reality
- π In Mahayana Buddhism, do they expect everyone to become a Buddha? If so how can any Buddha help anyone to attain enlightenment?
- π Did Gautama Buddha exist?
- π Why is in the budda days, jhana seem so easily attainable but so hard now?
- π Meditation or practicing technique has benefits of prenatal elaboration?
- π Is understanding a "bring-debt" or "gain-debt"?
- π Praying to a Buddhist deity for healing of someone
- π If Buddha is able to predict the future of other sentient beings how can freewill be possible as its very nature is that of unpredictability?
- π How to apply meditation in the following difficult situations
- π What can be the remedy here?
- π What is Aarya Upavaada?
- π How to work for liberating ALL living beings?
- π Does the Samajivina Sutta imply that a Buddhist should only marry another Buddhist?
- π Why is fasting allowed in Buddhism?
- π Three questions about sensual desire
- π Trouble Maintaining Practice
- π How does one Practice Sila?
- π Questions about reacting to bodily sensations
- π Is raping a male arahant or a non-arahant less immoral/less serious than raping a female arahant?
- π Sathipathanna mindfulness and Jhana how to do them correctly
- π Anapanasati practice: whatβs the correct way to focus on breath?
- π Third precept and parents approval
- π Buddhism on vasthu shastra
- π Good source of Buddha stories and what they mean
- π Meditation help - Am i observing a thought like I should or entertaining it?
- π Is it the EARTH only Place that can give birth to a Buddha?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π What are Buddhist views about free will? Does the concept of free will vs determinism even apply? Is it a question with a wrong assumption?
- π What are the different Buddhist views on marriage?
- π In what ways are the Advaita concept of 'Nirguna Brahman' and the Buddhist concept of Buddha Nature similar and different?
- π What are the common buddhist practices to eliminate sleepiness?
- π What are the differences/similarities in the concept of faith as used in Buddhism and Christianity?
- π From a Buddhist point of view, what are the benefits of supernormal powers?
- π What are the resources a Buddhist can use during very hard times?
- π What are the various Buddhist scriptural designations and to what do they refer?
- π What are the Buddhist teachings on how best to live a married life?
- π What does the Abhidhamma say about impermanence?
- π What does the Buddha mean by this quote? "There is no punishment for anger. It is the anger which will punish you."
- π Who are the Buddhas Yet to Come and what Information do we have about them as per Theravada standpoint?
- π What are the main warning signs in a Buddhist centre?
- π Can a buddhist enjoy life - what are the limitations and restrictions
- π What are the famous debates in canonical Buddhist texts?
- π What is known about enlightenment before the lifetime of the Buddha? Are there any claims that he was the first?
- π What does the Pali canon, and other respected work, teach about parenting?
- π What does Buddhism say about the consequences of good and bad behaviour?
- π What does the word "world" mean in the Buddhist context?
- π What are the traditional Buddhist arguments for rebirth?
- π What are the Buddhist guidelines for choosing the true Dhamma?
- π What are the commonalities between Jewish and Buddhist thought?
- π What does Buddhism teach about healing others through the mind
- π Are there any translations available from the Gandharan Buddhist Texts? When will they be available?
- π Does an Arahant yawn? Or: What are the characteristics of the Noble Ones: SotΔpanna, SakadΔgΔmi, AnΔgΔmi and Arahant?
- π What are the most prominent Tibetan Buddhist texts that are only written in Tibetan script?
- π Are there any Buddhist suttas in the scriptures about retaining memory?
- π What does Buddhism say about the "self"?
- π What are the name and content of this Zen Buddhist koan?
- π What are the verses relating to meditation in the Tripitaka? And to what type of meditation does it relate to?