RisingLane

That's what I used to believe. I can no longer accommodate free will. There is only God's will. Life is always living you.

I enjoyed the first episode. The dynamic between Lucy and the Ghoul is interesting.

Yes. As Adya says in the video, cause and effect is like a game that seems to be happening but, in reality, has no real substance. From the ultimate perspective, even determinism isn’t true, though it’s closer to reality than the fanciful idea of free will. In the relative world, things unfold according to apparent cause and effect, not free will.

I appreciate the larger goal of this work. Your vision is breathtaking.

We're going to Vegas!

Yes, I'm also determined to think it's probably best to let this matter rest for now

What do differing opinions have to do with free will? Sure, people have different perspectives, but that doesn’t prove that those opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints were freely chosen. They obviously weren’t. Either I’m exercising my free will to believe in determinism, or you’re destined to believe in free will—until you’re not. Which seems more likely? I’m not concerned with convincing anyone of determinism. If believing in free will still works for someone, maybe it’s best not to take it away too soon—it could be like training wheels. I used to believe in free will myself; I wasn’t always a determinist.

Nice! Letting go of free will is a beautiful thing. It’s surprising how much we resist it. Many people would rather endure the burden of free will than embrace perfect determinism. Interestingly, the idea of free will, or liberum arbitrium, was introduced by Saint Augustine as a way to tackle the problem of evil. Unable to accept that God created evil, he attributed it instead to human free will.

Quantum physics doesn't offer a path to free will. Frankly, nothing can, because the idea of free will is, at its core, a fantastical concept. Hoping for free will to exist is akin to wishing Pinocchio could become a real boy – it's something only magic could accomplish! Our heightened consciousness compared to animals doesn't automatically grant us free will, either.

Even Einstein was a determinist

The question is simple: Does free will exist or not? Before diving into that debate, we should first answer a few key questions: What exactly is will? What does it mean for the will to be free—and free from what? And if free will does exist, who actually possesses it? Fine, I’ll speak from my own experience. I honestly don’t feel like I have free will. Do you?

Nothingness can feel a lot like something. It’s essentially Infinite Potential, and when you experience it, you can’t help but wonder why it’s called Nothingness—yet somehow, it still makes perfect sense. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. It’s basically a question of monotheism versus monism. Bernadette Roberts would argue that the creator and the created are distinct, with a Great Divide separating the Uncreated from the created. Leo, on the other hand, merges everything into one, saying God is the very thing it creates, even the ego. I’m still uncertain.

City of Thieves by David Benioff (co-creator of Game of Thrones) Frankenstein Hamlet (not a book, but very fun) Lolita Perfume: The Story of a Murderer East of Eden

My favorite movie of the year is "Eddington": Joaquin Phoenix is an amazing actor, one of my favorites! He was fantastic in "Beau is Afraid," another Ari Aster film. It's a shame that "Eddington" and "Beau is Afraid" didn't get more recognition.

If you're a Nicolas Cage fan, you might like "Dream Scenario" and "Joe"—though the latter gets pretty bleak. Speaking of bleak, "Eden Lake" was the darkest film I saw this year. Definitely check it out if you're up for something intense, but consider yourself warned. I also dove into Todd Solondz's films this year, and they're definitely not sunshine and rainbows either.

It’s different from the first two—has a darker vibe. Enjoy!

Oh yes, I remember this, along with Adya’s summation of the teaching with a clap. It was meant to be Adya’s final public event, but he recently held A Gathering of Friends.

I'm pretty sure Jed was exaggerating as well, which just makes it even funnier.

Infinite Nothingness has Infinite Power and Infinite Will, and it's willing this moment into existence. As an Infinite Mind, it can imagine anything it desires, just as your finite mind creates thoughts and ideas within the limits of its conditioned will.

No one claims that choices aren't being made. Clearly, choices are made, but they aren't made freely. Your preferences are influenced by conditioning. Your breathing occurs automatically. Your gaze is directed by an intelligent designer who can lead your attention wherever they want you to focus.

Reminds me of Jed McKenna, who claimed he’d rather end his own life than spend a year in prison, or even push children in front of a train if that’s what the universe required of him.

Why would a follower of Actualized.org define God in that way? God is Infinite Nothingness. Maybe loving it and accepting it are the same thing. Tell that to Jesus.

Yes, it's about loving what is. What is, is God's will.

Stephen Gray, Richard Alpert, and Jagadish Vasudev wouldn’t have sold a single book.

If I can do as I please, why can’t I fly to the moon? It’s clear that this wasn’t meant for me in this lifetime, so it won’t happen no matter what I try.