Do I have Free Will?

[Amanda Norris]

It's hard for me to understand Subjective Reality. When I think of consciousness as just my own human awareness, it's hard for me to accept that I'm the only consciousness and everything I'm aware of is my own creation. But if I think of consciousness as something greater than the human mind, it doesn't make it any easier to grasp. If I'm really a greater consciousness, how come I can't experience any other human minds other than my current one? What makes the most sense to me is that every human is a similar creature. What applies to me should apply to every human. What if we are all the creations of someone else's mind? In that case, do we have free will, or are we just like scripted characters in a book or movie, who have no choices but just act out the part that was created for them?

[opinestle]

Hi,Amanda Norris!!~

Originally Posted by Amanda Norris

It's hard for me to understand Subjective Reality. When I think of consciousness as just my own human awareness, it's hard for me to accept that I'm the only consciousness and everything I'm aware of is my own creation.

Then don't think about it that way.There are many more positive ways to understand conciousness

Originally Posted by Amanda Norris

If I'm really a greater consciousness, how come I can't experience any other human minds other than my current one?

Some people are more perceptive to that.Not everyone is able to attain this kind of enlightenment(meaning we are all capable, just not always willing)Personally, I wouldn't want to know what was going on in everyones' mind


opinestle

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by Amanda Norris

how come I can't experience any other human minds other than my current one?

Because you are not a human mind, you are consciousness, there's only one.

Because you think consciousness is something going on inside your head, then you think that consciousness is going on inside everyone else's head too.

But that's not the case.

One consciousness, one observer, one experience.

Welcome to SR.......

Max

[Anagogy]

Originally Posted by Amanda Norris

It's hard for me to understand Subjective Reality. When I think of consciousness as just my own human awareness, it's hard for me to accept that I'm the only consciousness and everything I'm aware of is my own creation.

IMO, it's not just your human awareness, Amanda. Your human awareness is limited, your true awareness is not. There are no gaps or separation within it. It is complete, and it is that sense of completion that leads many to call it a state of perfection.

Originally Posted by Amanda Norris

But if I think of consciousness as something greater than the human mind, it doesn't make it any easier to grasp. If I'm really a greater consciousness, how come I can't experience any other human minds other than my current one?

You actually can. You believe you can't, so you can't. Psychics and Yogi's and other mystics will tell you it's possible. But people telling you it's possible won't convince you. You need to experience it for yourself to understand. The reason you can is because their ego mind and your ego mind are extensions of your larger Self. Egos adopt many limitations because they give validity to the ego's existence. The ego has a vested interest in remaining individualized.

Originally Posted by Amanda Norris

What makes the most sense to me is that every human is a similar creature. What applies to me should apply to every human.

You are every human...

Originally Posted by Amanda Norris

What if we are all the creations of someone else's mind? In that case, do we have free will, or are we just like scripted characters in a book or movie, who have no choices but just act out the part that was created for them?

We are all the figments of something's imagination. All that means is that while you indentify with your human ego, you were created. All things that have a beginning, eventually have an end. Your ego had a beginning, and one day, it will have an end. Your true mind had no beginning, and as such, will have no end.

You have free will. You can do anything you want to do in life, but if you identify with your ego (the limited mind), you may have a "destiny" or "script". All that means is that you have certain patterns, dispositions, and tendencies that could possibly predict what you will seek and perhaps how fast you will seek it. The more awareness you gain, the more your dispositions disappear and are replaced by one disposition -- the disposition for more awareness. The more awareness you have, the more free will you have.

Life is a story book, but it's a "choose your own adventure" story book.

[Alex2007]

Do you have Free Will?

NO
--------------------------

[Michael Chui]

What's so great about free will?

[juicemcnewton]

Free will owns noobs. I can do what I want, when I want, how I want. Like I could quit smoking cigarettes right now if I wanted to. B-...But I don't want to.

[Mark Lapierre]

Originally Posted by Amanda Norris

It's hard for me to understand Subjective Reality. When I think of consciousness as just my own human awareness, it's hard for me to accept that I'm the only consciousness and everything I'm aware of is my own creation. But if I think of consciousness as something greater than the human mind, it doesn't make it any easier to grasp. If I'm really a greater consciousness, how come I can't experience any other human minds other than my current one? What makes the most sense to me is that every human is a similar creature. What applies to me should apply to every human. What if we are all the creations of someone else's mind? In that case, do we have free will, or are we just like scripted characters in a book or movie, who have no choices but just act out the part that was created for them?

It could just be that SR is wrong. But as Anagogy said, you have to experience it yourself. It's part of the definition

But in the end, what do you think is more important, whether or not you have free will, whether or not SR is right, or how you feel as you live your life?

[Amanda Norris]

Wow, thanks for all the great replies.
Steve's recent blog about 'Life Sucks, Then You Die' helped me with this. It really clarified the issue for me. I have a choice. I can either give up and believe that I have no control over my life, or I can step up and take control of my life. What if I am really the one who has complete control of my life and I'm just sitting around with my hands in my pockets? If I don't actually have any control, I guess that will become obvious pretty quickly once I start trying to make changes. But like Steve says, you just have to try something for awhile and see what kind of results you get. So I'm going to take charge and do what I can to make my life better instead of waiting for the secrets of the universe to be handed to me on a silver platter.

[Michael Chui]

*snarky mode*

Originally Posted by Amanda Norris

the secrets of the universe to be handed to me on a silver platter.

On the other hand, presentation really counts when you're serving up the secrets of the universe.

[Plato]

Originally Posted by juicemcnewton

Free will owns noobs. I can do what I want, when I want, how I want. Like I could quit smoking cigarettes right now if I wanted to. B-...But I don't want to.

Your idea of free will is not knowing the cause for your actions.

[beautyscientist]

I know I have free will. I think that you have free will too, but I can't be sure.