Reality and Being
A quote from the book by Burnt Eliot
“We commonly attribute choice only to persons, or perhaps also to other living beings. This is false judgement perpetuated by habitual word phrases. There are two kinds of error in this:
People believe they can exercise free choice as to their own actions and judgements. This belief is an illusion. Individual choice is not real. “Free choice” is a superficial label that minimizes the natural and universal factors that cause events to unfold as they do. False labeling is perpetuated by habit. We cannot make free choice because we are driven in virtually every aspect of life by the universe within which this world appears. This does not mean there is no choice. It means that the universe determines all choices according to its own nature.
People ignore allowing. To allow is to be aware of the difference between allowing and choosing. When you allow, your world within this universe will continue on and will take care of itself. Allowing is a universal factor because it is the intentional quality of awareness. Within awareness, all choice is driven by the universe. Reality allows this.
There is no freedom of choice apart from the illusion of it. This illusion is perpetuated by the habit of clinging to the idea of separate beings. All choice is resolved naturally by the universe as a whole. There are no free actors to be found anywhere in the universe, just as there is no self to be found anywhere in the world.”
— Burnt Eliot in the book Reality and Being: The meaning of some common words, and the nature of reality.
This week, Daily Nonduality is sharing quotes from some fellow Substackers’ excellent books. Wisdom is all around us. It is us. Enjoy.
