I joined the Spirituality & Consciousness forum on TBD.com to network for promotion of my book. I was astounded to see how many are deeply thinking on consciousness, spirituality and doing the right thing. Rather than using TBD as a platform (BTW, TBD means “To Be Determined”) for book promotion, it was brought to my attention that the purpose of the form was far more important than that (Wanda, I thank you)!

I began to discuss very interesting things from the theory of parallel universes to the art of Paying It Forward ), for which I owe a thank you to David, and also on the concept of free will. I started a discussion titled, “On the Matter Of . . .” Interestingly, it was to read On the Matter of “Free Will” but the software at TBD chopped the part in quotes. At any rate, I want to share that initial post with you as it posits that we may have an element of free will:

Posted: Dec 24, 08 4:50pm

This is a topic of great interest to me. I would appreciate comments on free will.

Question: Is there such a thing as free will?

My mother passed on in January of this year, almost 99 years old. I was fortunate to have her with me in Hawaii for the last 5 years of her life as she dealt with advanced Alzheimer's disease.

Prior to her loss of concentration, I discussed this matter of free will. Her life was spent as a clinical psychologist and she had firm and definite thoughts on it. Briefly, it went something like this:

"Mom, listen . . . In writing my book, I came across very interesting experimental research by a Dr. Benjamin Libet in his book, "Mind Time." The incredible thing is, his studies show that there is a period of 350 milliseconds before we are consciously aware of an act, that signals (evoked potentials) can be recorded from the brain that show the act is already in progress!"

She was not impressed. I continued:

"Does that not suggest that we follow a pre-planned program, and what we think we are doing as "choice" is nothing of the sort? All planned in advance?"

I was expecting something other than her terse reply which was,

"Ridiculous! If there was not such thing as free will, then a person could do anything he/she wanted without worrying about consequences."

Well, I think she was declining in cognition at that point, as she received her PhD in 1935 at age 26, a straight A college student at a time when people of color, especially women, were kept from academics. She certainly had been aware of social mores which keep people from doing whatever they want (in some countries you lose a hand for theft of a loaf of bread, right) so law and order does restrain us but yet. . .. she was adamant about free will being our right and privilege.

Now if fairness to my mother, Libet also determined that there is a 200 ms period in which we may influence that which is already in progress.

That requires a sharp and focused mind, free of drugs, stress, etc. Now, I wonder if it is faith (such as that described by Louvette and others) that gives us that clear mind to operate within this limited window of time (1/5 sec)? Or is it clarity of consciousness and the ability to live in the moment that will pull this off?

I would appreciate any thoughts on this matter. Libet's work does seem to suggest that we follow a script and recent research confirms this finding.

My thought and conclusion in Medicine, Miracles and Manifestations is that we create a plan for each incarnation in a spiritual world, another dimension of time and space in the afterlife. Everything, including my present keystrokes, is planned well in advance. After birth, we follow that plan to the letter with only a very narrow window of time (1/5 second) in which to exercise a modicum of free will. If we miss this window, the plan proceeds unaltered and we are presented with the lesson to be learned.

To view the TBD discussion:

http://www.tbd.com/group/1965/discussion/1007611/show