Unraveling the Nature of Consciousness and Free Will: A Satsang with Ramesh Balsekar 2008-01-03

In this satsang session, Ramesh Balsekar engages in a deep discussion about consciousness, confusion, and the nature of free will with several attendees. The conversation begins with a participant expressing confusion about consciousness and the purpose of understanding it. Balsekar guides the participant through an exploration of consciousness, explaining that it is the fundamental awareness that exists when the mind is awake and active but disappears during deep sleep.

Balsekar elaborates on the concept of personal consciousness, which identifies with the body and mind, creating the ego and the illusion of personal doership. He explains that this ego is merely a byproduct of the impersonal consciousness that has identified itself with individual body-mind organisms, leading to the creation of a separate sense of self. This identification, he says, is the root of human suffering, as it leads individuals to believe they are the doers of their actions, responsible for the outcomes.

The discussion then shifts to the concept of duality, where Balsekar explains that the manifested universe operates on the principle of duality—good and evil, pleasure and pain, wealth and poverty. He emphasizes that human suffering arises from the desire to choose one side of the duality over the other, leading to conflict and confrontation. Balsekar points out that these desires are driven by the body's genetic makeup and conditioning, both of which are beyond individual control.

He further explores the law of karma, explaining that actions and their outcomes are not under personal control but are predetermined by one's genes and conditioning, which are themselves the results of divine will. Balsekar asserts that understanding this helps one realize that they are not the doer, and that everything that happens is the result of cosmic law.

The satsang continues with a participant asking about the purpose of the manifestation and the suffering it brings. Balsekar explains that the source, or primal potential energy, manifests the universe out of necessity, not for any particular purpose, and that this manifestation naturally involves duality and the resulting experiences of pleasure and pain. He emphasizes that realizing the impersonal nature of consciousness and the illusory nature of doership leads to peace of mind.

The session concludes with Balsekar addressing questions about Enlightenment and its relationship to happiness. He clarifies that Enlightenment is not about achieving a state of perpetual bliss but about the cessation of suffering through the understanding that there is no personal doer. This realization brings about a state of peace, where one is no longer disturbed by the fluctuations of pleasure and pain.

Throughout the satsang, Balsekar emphasizes that all human experiences, including suffering, are part of the divine script, and the only way to attain true happiness is through the total acceptance of this reality. His teachings resonate with the attendees, providing them with profound insights into the nature of existence and the path to inner peace.