Every one has strong belief that he has got ‘ freewill’ to follow a conscious decision and select between different
possible courses of action. This means that we decide our actions as per our
freewill. But this view seems to be incorrect according to a recent experiment.
The Max Planck Institute in Germany undertook an experiment on ‘the functioning of human brain’ and found out that human actions are not based on ‘freewill’. According to the researchers, the term ‘freewill’ could be little more than an “illusion”.
The experiment makes very clear to us one thing. Our ‘sub-conscious’ mind decides well in advance and dictates our action even before our ‘conscious’ mind realizes it. If the human beings are not in a position to act consciously and independently such human beings are mere automatons. They are pieces of biological watch and works with no freewill than a Swiss watch.
Our sub-conscious mind pre-determines our actions without our conscious mind’s knowledge. Then, is there any latent power deciding all our actions and whether humans have no control over them?
We have an apt answer to this in “Bagavat Gita’.
Krishna tells Arjuna, ‘The Supreme dwells in the heart of all beings, revolving them all by the mysterious power, Maya’. But the Supreme is however not like a ‘puppeteer’ controlling puppets.
Material nature ( Prakriti} plays vital role in our actions. The control is through a ‘subtle’ mechanism. The Gita says ‘Everywhere in all the material universes-Gunas of prakriti-perfom all works. But driven by egoism, man thinks ‘I am the doer’.
‘Samskaras’ or tendencies of a man depend on his activities or ’Karma’ in previous lives. ‘Samskaras’ is made up of three Gunas: Sattva, rajas and tamas. They decide and shape the character of a man. All his thoughts and actions are governed by his samskaras
In other words, nature compels him to act according to his character. The Gita says, ‘Even for a moment can a man remain without performing any action. Everyone is bound to act according to the qualities he has inherited from the modes of nature, material or gunas’.
According to ‘The Padma Purana’ the fate of five things in one’s life is already decided at the time one’s conception in the womb-the aggregate wealth one will acquire, one’s occupation, lifespan and when, where and how one will die.
Happenings attached to these five things are pre-determined and will come to pass, no matter what and can be termed one’s destiny. Karmas in the previous lives will shape our character in this birth. Our character in turn, makes us act in such a manner as destined.
Krishna tells Arjuna ‘Thus I have imparted to you wisdom that is more secret (profound) than that is secret. Reflecting over the whole teaching do as you think fit’.
He clearly states that the man has indeed a free will to think and act independently. He is the architect of his own destiny.
When we are able to shape our destiny ‘freewill’ will become a ‘pre-requisite’. And without ‘freewill’ the Law of Karma’ becomes ‘inoperative’.
Man is the deciding factor of his own destiny and hence, he has his own ‘freewill’.
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