Determinism or Free Will
I don’t have a definitive answer, but there are thought processes that can help us reflect more deeply on this question. You may find some satisfaction in contemplating them.
The
Question of Origins
Did
consciousness create the universe, or did the universe give rise to
consciousness?
If consciousness evolved from matter, then we must first examine the
material world. Consider the planets, stars, and galaxies—vast structures bound
by the laws of physics such as gravity, motion, and thermodynamics. They obey
fixed, predictable principles with no sign of independent will. How, then,
could consciousness—something fluid, adaptive, and self-aware—emerge
from such constrained systems?
A
fundamental principle holds that the property of a part cannot surpass that of
the whole. Even the most sophisticated supercomputers, born from human minds,
cannot create a genuine, human-like personality. Thus, if matter is so tightly
bound by law, how can it produce something as dynamic and seemingly autonomous
as consciousness?
Now,
consider the reverse: what if the universe originated from consciousness? In
that case, we still find the same stars and galaxies—ordered, fixed in their
appearance, and not overtly sentient. So even if consciousness was the source,
its material manifestation remains rigid and law-bound.
Degrees
of Consciousness and the Illusion of Freedom
Suppose
humans are superior to inert matter, embodying a consciousness that is at least
partly independent. Even so, we are imperfect. Across species and even within
humanity, levels of consciousness vary dramatically. With this, freedom varies
too. Every being has its limits, and human freedom—though greater than that of
animals—is still fundamentally bound.
We live
within the framework of physical laws. Our very existence depends on countless
cosmic conditions being perfectly met. In such a system, can we honestly claim
absolute freedom?
Freedom
is always contextual.
It is like a child on a playground: the child is free, but only within the
benevolent boundaries set by the mother. A good mother doesn't grant freedom
that could lead to harm. Similarly, we are given relative freedom, but within
firm boundaries—biological, environmental, and karmic.
Even in
daily life, freedom is limited by situations. You may move freely inside a bus
or train, but the vehicle’s predetermined path constrains you. You can walk
along a road, perhaps even work to expand it slightly, but only within the
constraints of terrain, property, and effort.
What
determines our scope for expansion? Mental development. Our social and
psychological capabilities differ, even if our outer forms are similar.
Ultimately,
true freedom lies in aligning one’s individual will with the Supreme Will. As a
child grows to understand the mother’s intention, true harmony arises when our
intellect and inner nature (subconscious) are in sync. Only then do we move in
the right direction, effortlessly.
The
Universe as One Interconnected Being
Vedic
astrology, when rightly understood, reveals this fundamental unity. It decodes
the signals from the stars and planets—signals that echo within our own
subconscious minds. The entire cosmos is a single, interconnected organism.
There are no true separations—events in one part of the system ripple across
the whole.
Astrology
can read these ripples, but cannot change them. It is a tool that reflects destiny;
it does not shape it.
Beyond
Time, Beyond Identity
If a Supreme
Consciousness is absolute and omnipotent, why would it need to create anything
at all?
From the
Advaita (non-dual) Vedantic standpoint, there is no "creation." There
is only an appearance. The universe unfolds, but it was never truly
created in time because time itself is an illusion. The past and future are
mental constructs; only the eternal present truly exists. The universe is not
"locally real"—meaning that objects and events do not have definite
properties independent of observation.
In this
framework, there is no separate self and no fixed destination. Even liberation—Moksha,
Nirvana—is just a concept for the seeker. As the Zen saying goes, it is
like searching for the glasses that are already on your eyes. Sooner or later,
you will realize they were never lost.
Therefore,
individual free will is also, ultimately, an illusion. We feel we choose, but
deeper self-awareness reveals that our actions are part of a much larger,
unfolding pattern.
Insights
from a Meditative Mind
With
continuous Vipassana meditation or deep self-observation, one can
discover an astonishing truth: action arises before mental
justification. The brain, with an infinitesimally fine delay, creates a
narrative for events just after they have already been initiated. This
direct insight fundamentally challenges our everyday sense of being in control.
Beyond
Our Four Dimensions
We are
conditioned to think in four dimensions—length, width, height, and time. But
the universe may be far more complex. Inconsistencies between classical and
quantum physics, as well as unexplained phenomena like ghosts, hint at the
possibility of multi-dimensionality. In such a vast framework, many of
our questions, especially those posed at the absolute level, become invalid,
like asking "What is north of the North Pole?"
In the end,
perhaps the most important realization is not whether consciousness or matter
came first, but that both arise within a larger mystery—one that cannot
be grasped with thought alone, but may be experienced through insight,
silence, and surrender.
-------------------------------------------------------------------Raghvendra
Khare
