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Originally Posted by newmark  For example do we have free will or is life pre-determined? I would argue that it is both. We have freedom of choice, but we are also constrained by many outside factors. |
I don't even think that we have freedom of choice. Certainly, not all the time, and not under all circumstances.
You see, we humans are habit-forming creatures. We form habits constantly, ceaselessly, every day. And all habits are simply recurring patterns of thought. Recurring patterns of thought can be very hard to break. But if you cannot break them, then obviously you do not have freedom of choice.
Consider for example, addictions. It could be drugs, sex, cigarettes, alcohol, whatever. In all cases, there is a recurring pattern of thought in the addict, which causes him to repeat his behaviour again and again, even though another part of him may want to quit.
Addictions are an obvious example of recurring patterns of thought. But all of us have many, many different kinds of patterns of thought. At the most fundamental level, we might even say that all those things which the Buddha described as "obscurations" are just recurring patterns of thoughts.
For example, Buddhism says that most of us are under the following illusions:
(1) we perceive our selves as inherently existing;
(2) we perceive that we are separate and distinct from other things in reality;
(3) we perceive things to be much more permanent and stable than they really are
Etc etc.
Now, all of those illusions (1) to (3) could be said to be recurring patterns of thought. They are habits. And if we shed them, we would become enlightened.