After reading the last chapter of the book (which was a commentary on Maharaj's teaching), I think I understand. Whoever wrote this really summed it up well:
"The fundamental question therefore is: Can the individual, an illusory entity, decide independently as by choice that he wants to be 'liberated'? No, he cannot. Would it not be wiser for him and, incidentally, more practical too, to accept passively what is as part of the total funcitoning, and look at whatever happens in wondrous admiration of the working of Nature? The prompt but thoughtless reaction to this suggestion often is: If everyone adopts such a 'fatalistic' attitude, no one will work or make any progress. Maharaj's immediate answer to such a reaction is: Well, try it and see if Nature works this way. How long can you sit still without doing anything, ten minutes?"
This makes sense to me, and it explains, in my mind at least, how we can not be volitional beings but believe that we are. True action, true thought, and true intutition arises spontaneously, but for most of us the ego takes credit for what happens. I also think there is what the author calls "deliberate efforts from the pseudo-entity," which is when our ego creates thoughts, takes action, and tries to gain "intelligence" for superiority, all of which is hazardous and causes suffering.
Erock
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