Hello Mark: You wrote, "I am aware that this arguement can be used as the perfect cop-out for anything, but I think it's also a necessary realisation for ascendence." I think the Christain cross is a good symbol, in which the answer to your question about free will may be found amd this realisation for ascendence. There are two lines to the cross, one horizontal and the other vertical, as you probably know. We could see the vertical line as being the involutional process or the level of mechanical function or the habitual level of human consciousness. This is actually a state of unconsciousness, where there is no choice or free will. Individuals function based upon the well known stimulus-response mechanism. We might think we have a choice and free will, but our emotional reaction to an environmental stimulus is on the horizontal level. If one continues on this level, s/he eventually goes down and out. Energy is dissipated at this level and one has no choice at that level. The attitude "why me, Lord" becomes another habitual expression and based upon one's lack of understanding of the law of Cause and Effect. We are much more familar with the horizontal level than the vertical ascendent. The vertical ascendent line is the place of choice and free will, because here there is consciousness at a higher level of being. When one starts out on the vertical ascendent, there is a much different experience as a result of that. Things of a higher nature and quality comes down the vertical line and materalizes on the physical level, the horizontal line. One begins to act in a conscious manner to external stimuli and one's expression is appropriate to the situation. It is not a mechanical reaction. I think one of the most difficult things to overcome is our habitual emotional responses to whatever captures our attention in any given moment. We can become lost in the movie we are watching or the book we are reading or the person we are identifying with. When we do this, immediately in a flash, we are on the horizontal descendent line. I think the Bardon system, through the steps, inspires one to step off the horizontal line, the path of least resistance, onto the vertical line of ascension, which really requires a great deal of effort. This alone deters those curiosity seekers who do not want to make any personal effort to improve themselves, but just want things handed to them on a silver platter. Even as far back as early Christian days, the question was asked, "Who shall ASCEND into the hill of the Lord?" Who is willing to step off the horizontal path onto the vertical ascendent? That's the big question? Thank you Mark for using the word "ascendence". It really opened things up for me. A lot of personal questions arose in me. Robert mark towse <bigimpact2003@...> wrote: Hi All, (note: I think this is relevant here and not on Magi Rawn, if not - junk it, but I'd be grateful for anyones thoughts on the point though! Incidentally, everything went a notch up and everything has turned out fine, thanks for your previous help!) I have a query regarding free will. Rawn mentioned a while ago that by living in the temporal now is the only way you can maintain free will (after you reach a certain level of integration with the higher self and the all). I have long been under the impression that there is no free will at any point as every action undertaken is a perfect representation of every circumstance that has lead to the present level of consciousness, thus any action / reaction that occurs in the physical is, by definition, the only action that could have taken place; any other response / action / whatever is physically impossible to happen. So the question is, to what extent is there genuine free will, as I am under the distinct impression that the illusion of free will in workers is the main driving force behind life and QED the magics. Also, does the extent of potential free will differ depending on the level of an initate? I am aware that this arguement can be used as the perfect cop-out for anything, but I think it's also a necessary realisation for ascendence. Incidentally, on the "Starving Somalian" thing from Jeremy, nobody mentioned that Universal law states that a starving 6 year old in Somalia is meant to be starving in Somalia; Hermetics or no - everything is as it is meant to be. Communion to all, Mark --------------------------------- Want to chat instantly with your online friends? Get the FREE Yahoo!Messenger [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: BardonPraxis-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]