Hi Stafford,
I am back from my holiday…. I hope you are well…… and so onto Question 5.
Describe decision, intention free will, choice and control. What makes things happen? How does it work? What are you responsible for? Give examples from experience
Describe decision, intention free will, choice and control
Decision, intention, free will, choice and control are all ideas that ‘we’ believe ‘we can have’. In reality they are just ‘ideas’ that occur. If there is no ‘I’ then ‘I’ cannot make choices or ‘own’ them. We may believe these are choices, but essentially there is no one at home to make these so called choices, or to have control etc.
What makes things happen?
Things happen because things happened before, and things before that happened also……… Things happening create more things to happen. It seems to be the nature of reality for things to happen.
How does it work
A boy throws a stone thrown into the water creating ripples because he is upset at something his mother said. His mother is unhappy as her father had hurt her emotionally when he was alive, but now she feels frustrated she will never be able to ‘clear the air’. The stone hitting the water disturbs a family of fish, killing one of their children. The fish view it as a natural disaster and then promptly forget it ever happened. The ripples of ‘happening’ just happen, creating further ripples. No one knows how or why the ripples started, even if they ever really ‘started’ as such, but they continue and we are part of those ripples. Any attempt to describe any of the experience in words is ridiculous, but occasionally seems stupidly necessary.
What are you responsible for?
Well basically we would all be fucked if we actually existed……….. but luckily there isn’t really anyone here, at home, present etc. It feels like there is, but on closer examination ‘no one’ actually comes forward to reveal themselves. The Self is like a theatre for actors and actresses to assume their roles… The theatre itself is just a space where it happens…… The theatre space isn’t human and doesn’t get involved in all the games of acting…it’s just a space…. You can even tear down the theatre and plant a grass park…… it doesn’t care… it’s just ‘space’ in which events can take place…… Nothing can really be said by the beings / actors in the space in relation to it, as they can never get to grips with it…….. ‘Thought’ just creates further ripples……….. Even calling it ‘Space’ is just a futile attempt to label it…….
Give examples from experience
‘I’ do not want there to be suffering in the world and ‘I’ want it to stop. ‘I’ feel ‘I’ should try to change the world. ‘I’ try, but in doing so ‘I’ push others away due to ‘my’ radical beliefs. ‘I’ become vegetarian, but after years of being vegetarian, ‘I’ find that others feel ‘I’ am bad as ‘I’ am not a vegan and therefore they see me supporting an evil dairy industry.
Within the ‘me’ that I often feel I am, I try to make more skilful decisions that unskilful ones, but ultimately realise that there is no real me and no real ‘them’s…. (and no real decisions)….. In knowing this, there is also a knowing that nearly all beings believe that they do ‘exist’ and therefore experience the pain that comes with existing. The ‘ripples’ that have created the sense of ‘me’ have also somehow created a sense of empathy (which is perhaps ultimately also bullshit), but those ripples continue to be active.
Anything to add?
‘I’ and ‘Me’ always wants to add to things…… stir the water….create more ripples……….best not to ‘add’….. best to sit here and breath………
But just one more thing……………….(Ha bloody Ha!)
Luv ya,
Dave