The Paradox of the Ultimate Self
The mind constructs opposites to make sense of its existence. It divides what is whole, fabricating distinctions such as light and dark, good and evil, self and other. Among these conceptual splits, destiny and free will are two of the most debated. One appears as an external force guiding every step, while the other seems to grant agency over choices. But what if both are the same movement of the Ultimate Self, which is also You – before you believed yourself to be anything at all?
The character you take yourself to experience the illusion of choice, just as it experiences the illusion of fate. Both arise within the vast intelligence that is your true nature. The moment a decision unfolds, it is perceived as an act of will. Yet, after the fact, it may appear as if it was meant to be. The distinction between choosing and being led is merely a shift in perception. Neither position is absolute, because all actions, whether seemingly determined or freely chosen, arise from the same singular source.
The very act of contemplating this question – the tension between predestination and volition – is itself an expression of the play. The Self, pretending not to be the Self, weaves the experience of doubt, belief, and questioning. It is an intricate engagement, a dance in which each step is both spontaneous and inevitable. You are the architect of the journey and the wanderer who marvels at the path.
The paradox resolves itself when viewed from clarity. The Ultimate Self is not bound by concepts of fate or autonomy. It moves as a unified expression, neither predetermined nor random, neither forced nor chosen. The illusion of separation gives rise to the belief in one or the other, but when the mirage dissolves, the recognition remains that all movement is of the same origin.
To believe in destiny is to trust that all unfolds exactly as it should. To believe in free will is to recognize yourself as the creator of that unfolding. To see both as true and false is to rest beyond belief itself, in that which has never been bound by choice or fate.
Morgan O. Smith
Yinnergy Meditation/Neurofeedback, Spiritual Life Coaching & My Book, Bodhi in the Brain…Available Now!
Morgan O. Smith 