Free will is the ability to choose among different actions without any obstacles. Most people think everyone always has free will, except in specific situations like hypnosis or mental illness. However, I argue that we do not actually have free will, and that’s okay because free will is not a concept found in Buddhism.
Free will is significant in our culture. Philosophers, religious leaders, and politicians consider it essential for personal morals and the development of society. For example, Kant linked free will with moral laws. Barack Obama also emphasized that American values are based on optimism and belief in free will.
Determinism, which is the opposite of free will, suggests that our actions are entirely conditioned, meaning we aren’t really responsible for them. This can be a disturbing idea because it implies that we live like robots, without true responsibility for our lives.
However, the concept of free will doesn’t align with reality. Neuroscientist Benjamin Libet conducted an experiment where participants were asked to press a button at random times. Using EEG, Libet found brain activity that initiated the action before participants were consciously aware of their decision to act. This suggests that what we perceive as free will is actually influenced by unconscious brain activity.
Further experiments using MRI technology have shown that brain activity can predict a decision several seconds before a person is aware of it. This discovery challenges the traditional notion of free will, which involves conscious decision-making.
While free will is central to many religious and ethical systems, it’s not a Buddhist concept. Buddhism instead focuses on the idea of conditionality, which means everything arises depending on other conditions. Our choices are never entirely free; they are influenced by prior states and conditions.
The Buddha emphasized that we cannot simply will ourselves to be happy forever because our minds are conditioned, and these conditions are beyond our full control. Instead, Buddhism teaches that while we can’t choose to be perpetually happy, we can make choices that steer us toward happiness. For instance, we can choose to let go of negative thoughts and cultivate positive ones, gradually improving our well-being.
In Buddhism, making a choice requires mindfulness, which helps us see the options available and their outcomes. Without mindfulness, we often act automatically, driven by our emotions and conditioning.
Mindfulness creates a space where we can make better decisions, which in turn reshape our brains and behaviors for the better. This process aligns with the Buddhist concept of karma, which means “action” or “work.” Our actions change who we are, either positively or negatively.
Libet’s experiments highlight that decisions start unconsciously, and our conscious minds falsely claim credit for them. This doesn’t conflict with Buddhist teachings, which accept that there is no “self” making these decisions. Recognizing the illusion of a self that makes conscious choices is a key insight in Buddhism.
The focus in Buddhism is on making wise decisions that consider long-term happiness and well-being. This involves repeatedly choosing actions that reduce suffering and increase happiness, even if we mistakenly believe these decisions are consciously made by a self.
In summary, while we might not truly have free will, we can still make mindful choices that lead to better outcomes. By recognizing the limits of our control and focusing on wise, compassionate actions, we can create a more fulfilling life.