In this class (Class 31, on Sunday, October 6th at 9:30 am PST), we discuss verses 3.27-3.29 of the Gita, chapter 21 of Sri Aurobindo's Essays on the Gita, entitled "The Determinism of Nature" (pp. 212–223), and pp. 24-32 of Swami Medhananda's article, "Hard Theological Determinism and the Illusion of Free Will: Sri Ramakrishna Meets Lord Kames, Saul Smilansky, and Derk Pereboom."
Link to Swami Medhananda's article, "Hard Theological Determinism and the Illusion of Free Will: Sri Ramakrishna Meets Lord Kames, Saul Smilansky, and Derk Pereboom"
Study Questions:
1. According to Sri Aurobindo's interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita, do we have free will?
2. Please compare the Bhagavad Gita's views on free will and determinism with the views of Sri Ramakrishna. What are the similarities and differences in their respective views?
3. How are the Gita's teachings on free will and determinism helpful to us as struggling spiritual aspirants?
4. Please compare Sri Aurobindo's and Swami Tapasyananda's interpretations of verses 3.33 and 3.34 of the Bhagavad Gita. (Swami Tapasyananda's interpretation of 3.33 and 3.34 is found on pp. 110–111 of his book.) How can these verses help us as spiritual aspirants?
5. Do you have any questions about the reading? Did you have difficulty understanding anything? Do you have any doubts or confusions?