are we not being simply fufilling our desires? what is free will, choosing one desire over another? If that is so, then one could say whatever one desires most they are subject to that desire. Don't BS me either, I know you ppl have desires and succum to them even if they are to serve the lord, they're still desires.
The only way I can think of having free will is being free to choose your desires and for most it seems that they do not choose their desires but are rather based off of their perceptions or misperceptions of reality. If you want my suggestion on how to really have free will I'd say you have to first see the emptiness in your perceptions.
2006-07-18 23:52:49 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
truth is relative to that which is preceiving it. Do you not see that it is your desire that keeps you in your perceptions?
2006-07-19 00:06:11 · update #1
Good for God but "free will" is a human concept so let's keep this human shall we?
2006-07-19 00:06:45 · update #2
alobar, does one not desire to not give into a perticular desire out of desire?
2006-07-19 00:11:45 · update #3
zyphrescent, your ignorance of emptiness is showing. By the way, I am a buddhist monk.
2006-07-19 00:15:39 · update #4
LOL that was SO funny
2006-07-19 00:16:21 · update #5
by the way, morality is a choice and choices are made out of desire.
2006-07-19 00:20:09 · update #6
Wow I like this one.
What if we do only go with what we desire more, what if on some level, even in the most selfless act we are only acting in the desire to be seen as a hero? etc etc.
Well if the answer is simply that our choices are completely controled by desire and that this is inescapable, than in honesty, who cares (within the discussion of free will).
Desire then becomes the structure within which we operate, the way in which we make a decision. At the end of the day, decision making within the brain has to have some form of structure, the machine must have a circuit. If that circuit is desire then wonderful, we are one step closer to understanding ourselves. But does this really mean we are without free will just because we understand how that will is structured. Can we not, whth knowledge of the structure call it on its own game.
So here comes the enevitable budhist angle in all my answers. If the structure of desire is the Ego then wonderful, this knowledge is simply a marvelous tool with which to observe ourselves. It emphisies the need for the ego, the need to maintain your ability to 'play the game' through the employment of the ego for a particualr task.
But to reverse my argument (and to say that desire states we are without free will). If what you desire is to be free from desire you will not achieve it because you will be fulfilling a desire ;) Therefore, we are not capable of free will until we accept our inablility to achieve it, until we submit.
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2006-07-19 01:08:17 · answer #1 · answered by The Dude 3 · 7⤊ 3⤋
It works with great and patient training. Dont mean to sound all mystically bull$hitty but its true. I can advise one great book about this- Awareness by Anthony de Mello.
It isn't emptiness in perception, its detachment from the perception. Because where the attention goes the rest is sure to follow if we detach from our perceptions then we may still have desire but not necessarily follow through. I may see a nice meal or admire the beauty of a woman but cease craving such if i find detachment. Its the gift side of the human curse of "radical seperation" in philosophy. For example, talk to a Buddhist, they specialize in this. Once one reaches enlightenment and ceasation of desire and attachment at feels like this;
You always wanted to get into this house but the door was locked, you finally find a ladder and climb up the ladder and crawl through the window upstairs and into the house. Its at that mad point that you are in the house (Enlightened) that you realize you had the front door key in your pocket the whole time. You see, we have the power within us (sounding fluffy mystical crap when i say "power"). We all have it its just we dont know we have it. Its so simple its hard to get for we who make life not so simple.
Know what i mean-coz i dont. I FEEL my way through this and teach it to others willing but words are pretty bad at describing it.If you get my then thats good but i'm gonna stop describing it now. Remeber-even the most enlightened beings free from all desire still like chocolate. Choice is the key here.
2006-07-19 07:07:15 · answer #2 · answered by zephyrescent 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consciousness is foremost "thing" that distinguishes us from Non living things. As long as we have consciousness we shall have desires.
Our basic desires are to prolong life and enhance our well being.
Once we achieve that, then we want to accumulate wealth, power, fame, - rule the earth if possible.
We make different choices to achieve the same desires.
Our decision making depends on our intelligence, culture, and our general environment.
For example your desire if food.
Now use intelligence and study your options.
Then you use free will to make the right choice.
You may make an intelligent choice ( eat healthy food), or a choice based on social acceptance (eat what you friends eat)
or you may be distracted by a new video game and skip lunch altogther opting for chips and coke. It is your free will.
Your choices are your destiny.
2006-07-19 08:06:26 · answer #3 · answered by vinod s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there are three factors to consider here: desire, truth and free will. One is constantly at battle between choosing desire or truth. And free will is the one in between these two. It is free will that determines whether one should succumb to desire or to the truth. I did not say right here instead of truth, as right is rather relative.
2006-07-19 06:59:19 · answer #4 · answered by Joy RP 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know what free will is, I don't know what desire is. When one sees the emptiness of all things one simply chooses their way. Their choices work integrally with their surroundings. They are one with everything, simply being their simple selves. Choices or either desires manifest and they either choose or desire them. Is there any difference?
2006-07-19 07:30:22 · answer #5 · answered by zenasskickinmachine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Free will means you have the option to not entertain your desires, or to actively pursue them. Desire does not come from free will, it's just another emotion; desire is also not good nor evil, it simply is. If you desire to kill your neighbour, and don't that is an excercise in free will so is the contrary, ie. killing him. Free will just means You Choose. Desire is want, and is outside of morality, free will is inside of morality--it is your choice to be good, evil or inactive, what you want--desire--is out side of that.
2006-07-19 07:06:29 · answer #6 · answered by Alobar 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
desire is not free,
the sire produces desire,
that little pony is free!
2006-07-19 07:10:51 · answer #7 · answered by bluffylee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
god knows
2006-07-19 07:02:40 · answer #8 · answered by fzaa3's lover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋