Wednesday, 27 January 2010 15:42
Someone emailed me the following:
Just read your blog. No one seems to talk about where thoughts and feelings come from. That's because it's unknown. It's not possible that we can think and feel for ourselves. Thoughts and feelings are given to us--but where they originated can't be known. So whatever it is that "notices" or "questions" is given. We can't "create" anything. If anything changes, it's because we are changed. We don't change ourselves, or make choices or have free will. Obviously it's necessary that we live, because we're alive, but the only thing that we "do" is observe. We're not capable of doing anything else.
And here is my reply:
Thanks so much for your perspective. I do think ultimately you are correct that we do not "think" most of our thoughts as much as we receive them like a radio receives the signal from the station.
But it is also possible that whatever it is that sends the signal of our thoughts (which can not be known as you point out) also gives us the experience of individuality and free will in the same way as it sends us thoughts. It still comes from the same source, but perhaps that source loves the mystery and surprise it gets when it gives a part of itself free will to act in unpredictable ways.
So while that apparent choice and free will are ultimately a gift from something more mysterious, it still could be our relative experience that we have the free will to act and choose. It definitely would make for a more interesting illusion!
There is a fairy tale or story at the end of my free ebook, Beyond No Self, that offers one explanation of how the mystery could give its creations apparent free will and choice by creating copies or clones of itself to live these apparent lives as individuals. You can read the story here (scroll to the bottom of the page where the story is in italics).
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