Tag Archives: free will

Free will and community

Posted on by under developing awareness, Uncategorized

Today’s I Ching is 60 – Discipline

Water over Lake.. Discipline follows Dispersal.

 

Spirit explains:  When a river flows into a lake then water overflows

Onto surrounding land, unless it is restricted from doing so.

 

Dispersal suggests an unorganized scattering, such as seeds or

Dry leaves by a wind.

 

There is no free will choice, no sense of freedom involved when

We have no self-control concerning where we are going with our life.

 

Self-discipline determines what we will do with our potential; how

It will be directed. Without self-control, we risk being controlled by others.

 

How to have it both ways? I need to be free and still be a contributing part of

A community. I need to think for myself and still learn from You and others.

 

Yes, we need both.

 

Then how do we work both sides of the street?

 

We don’t.

 

Then what?

 

We compromise; we find an acceptable middle ground between extremes

Of individualism and group control. But we must always be aware of

The price we choose to pay, or we risk losing choosing.

 

 

Free will is never free

Posted on by under developing awareness, seeking the middle way, Uncategorized

Spirit tells me that in many ways the past cannot be changed, but

Our understanding of past experiences is, at least to a certain extent,

A reflection of our intellectual and emotional maturity, at any given time,

As well as the degree of truth of information we received from others

Concerning the events in our past.

 

Even facts can be misinterpreted, intentionally or otherwise. We may

Also learn to accept that any past events necessarily developed out of

Even earlier situations, as well as from choices made by ourselves or others.

 

Through a continuous process of change, caused by forces beyond our

Control, at least to some extent, the choices we make today will limit or

Expand the choices available to us tomorrow.

 

We are what we have become and we will be what we become.

 

Where does free will fit into the picture?

 

Free will is never free.

 

Karma Rules

Posted on by under developing awareness, seeking the middle way, Uncategorized

Spirit tells me that so-called free will is often misunderstood.

 

Some people claim the right to do whatever they choose to,

Regardless of how their choices may negatively affect

The lives of others, or our natural environment.

 

They have obviously failed to read the fine print that

Holds them responsible for consequences.

 

All Universal Laws, He tells me, are interconnected –

A package deal, with no options or exceptions, and

Karma rules.

 

Ten thousand easier ways

Posted on by under developing awareness, seeking the middle way, Uncategorized

Spirit tells me that one of us seems to be unaware of

Where we are or where we are going, or

How we have planned to get there.

 

Planned? I don’t remember planning

This route through life.

There simply has to be

An easier way.

 

Perhaps there are ten thousand

Easier ways, He tells me, but

This is your/our way.

 

Did we draw straws or roll dice?

 

Neither of the above. Our way is

A gift that we have given to

Ourselves.

 

How? and Why?

 

Free will or, rather, the price

Or consequence of such.

I Ching 25 – No Error

Posted on by under Uncategorized

Today’s I Ching – 25 – No Error

     Heaven above, Thunder below. No Error follows Return in the order of the Hexagrams.

Spirit explains:  Every step we take leads us away from somewhere and toward somewhere else.

We each move Live with awareness; some with more and some with less, our choice.

Return refers to choosing to be aware of having wandered from our personal path and choosing to return to it.

No error expresses the concept of “no blame” which is inherent in the I Ching. Perhaps wandering from The Way of Enlightenment, or Tao, was necessary for us to become aware of where we really want to go, or do.

What does this say to me? I ask.

Figure it out, He tells me.