There is undoubtely free will, since we can choose and our choices, in critical points, can influence in a very significant way our future, even as they influenced our past.
Then there is the issue of how much of our free will is really free and not influenced by karma. But, since karma has been shaped up by ourselves, that's a form of self-determination just the same.
SI, I have the GTWA volumes packed somewhere, I'll see if I can dig em up.
There are many places where the Guru mentioned our use of free will. i will convey one; God's highest gift to man is free will-freedom to choose Him and His wisdom or the lures of maya's satanic delusion. page 219 The Second coming of Christ.
i doubt that it hurts to mention again what Brother Bhaktananda had to say on the subject. It seems to me that until we actually make an effort on the spiritual path our lives are mostly governed by karma and we are pawns of worldly desires and events.
i was standing before Brother Bhaktananda and he had that look of quiet reflection that he often wore when i asked him. "Brother is there free will or are we all just predestined to do everything we do?" He replied: "There is free will and there is predestination. God already knows what you will do, but you do not so you must exercise free will" (end of quote) until you act according to Gods' plan for yourself and the universe.
From our (my) limited perspective of the mind it is very difficult to see just what that divine plan is that he has for us all: Thus the use of meditation to help. Once we get in that vibration of spiritual contact we are apt to make decisions that are more in line with the divine plan. Otherwise most of our decisions are based on desire and habit. When we ha e the guidance of a guru we are often given glimpses of other peoples motives and their state of consciousness becomes clearer with passing time. These are also notices along the way for us to be able to make the right decisions. Often others around us will play their cards and we are much like witnesses to the unfolding drama. Once seeing what their hands it is much easier to make our own conclusions and take the right course of action.
Like many paradoxes of the mind there is no black and white answer. When people have answers like this it always leaves me wondering. i include myself in this observation. It just doesn't seem like God made such simple answers that are black and white to such perplexing subjects. But the mind continuously seeks to find such explanations. It reminds me of Christ when standing before Pilot. Pilot said "What is truth" Jesus did not answer knowing from Pilots' perspective that he would not understand anyhow. Brother Bhaktananda also said to me: "Keep reading the SRF lessons to stay in tune with Master"
