On free will, emotions, freedom and more, Q&A with Francis Lucille

"We are the eyes of the one single seer and this seer is freedom itself."
This video is the Q&A meeting with Francis Lucille at SAND14, San Jose, CA
Francis Lucille is a spiritual teacher of the tradition of Advaita Vedanta (non-duality). He became a disciple of Jean Klein, a French Advaita teacher whom he met in 1975. This was the beginning of a close association that lasted until the death of his friend and spiritual master in 1998. Jean Klein’s own guru, “Panditji” Rao, whom he met in India in the nineteen-fifties, was a college professor in Bengalore who taught Sanskrit and belonged to a lineage of traditional Advaita Vedanta teachers. For more information about Francis Lucille please visit: www.francislucille.com

[@grahamrobson998]

Thank you Francis. I love you.

[@djdollase]

Francis is the perfect non-dual teacher at SAND because he was a scientist and can speak the language. Much better than others I have seen in these videos.

[@markrudis1699]

The diversion from the path to truth is the struggle. Bombing ourselves with effort to wake up seems logical, i did it myself. But only when we relax and accept that it really doesnt matter anyway is the goal obtained. It just happens. Effort is the obstacle.

[@mohamedladhaladha7997]

The electricity is not the same as the appliance it runs through.

[@davidrivers872]

Francis is so easy to understand and also so very helpful.

[@jldelville]

Was nice to be able to listen to this after the conference, Merci bien.

[@GetMeThere1]

This is a good one! Thanks for posting it, SandN

[@Uhm-.]

Very beautiful talk...Thank you francis. Namaste

[@justme-tj3jt]

This concept of emotional separateness is a difficult concept for beginners to understand. Emotions just are. There is a biological connection between mind, body spirit, emotion connection. Separation is an illusion. Give yourself permission for any and all emotion...simply allow it to flow and pass through...

[@ramachandranbiju3358]

Wonderful.Pranams🙏

[@helenormes404]

Wonderful 🙏❤️

[@luisalbelda67]

THank you!

[@weobeyjesus4565]

Human beings cannot change their beliefs using willpower

[@annesparfumyoga]

Wonderful... The best, really incredible, thank You for sharing. With Love 🌷

[@claudelebel49]

No doership equals no guilt.

[@MUSICOBLISS]

Love 🌷

[@garygreffe4522]

So when you transcend the fake "i" or the ego you than have free will? How does that work?

[@d1427]

the entire dialogue can be summarized in the following: "yeah, yeah, I understand I don't exist as a separate individual but tell me, what happens when I die?"= keep on beating a dead horse

[@ckelley623]

Lol ..lady sit down

[@justme-tj3jt]

Free will for whom? Lovely...

[@jacquesboutelet8643]

Merci Francis ,j’ai un frère Françoise et Maman s’appelait Françoise ,et aussi un prêtre que j’aimais beaucoup avant de lire le Pouvoir du moment Présent et lui te voilà alors que j’ai 68 ans et demi lol ,bienvenue !

[@LoveJungle420]

I am a big fan, but I am not so convinced of his idea that focusing awakening will take care of most psychological issues. I don't see this working with severe trauma, anti social issues. I am not where Francis is, but I do have realization of Rigpa. Or awareness of the ground of consciousness. This gives me freedom from getting caught in negative thinking, but I can tell by my actions that some of my deeper fears, insecurities etc are still informing my life.

[@sattwa2]

I don’t think these teachings are necessarily applicable to the unwinding of severe trauma. Severe trauma will probably not allow the understanding here to sink in.

[@LoveJungle420]

@@sattwa2 Is this David Star Fields? The fire spinner that I met at Burning Man?

[@sattwa2]

@@LoveJungle420 What year approximately would that have been?

[@LoveJungle420]

@@sattwa2 2016. I had platinum dyed hair and beard with yellow happy faces all over it.

[@atmannityananda-academia]

The negative emotions and the sense 'the body is me' is one and the same energy that assumes different forms of expression. For example When we are angry we think that the I' that feels angry and the anger are two different things or energies. But this is the most fundamental illusion created by the ego-energy. The ego is a field of energy that by modification assumes innumerable forms like the chameleon. The main ones are 'Iness viz. the body is me, lust and desire and the pain-body that is the totality of all negative emotions, impulses, likes- dislikes, fear, anger, depression etc. By eliminating anyone of these aspects of ego we reduce the ego-energy field in general. If we eliminate for example the desire energy completely, will die also the 'Iness and the painbody. If we eliminate the 'Iness completely will die also the desire and the pain body. If we eliminate completely the pain body by eliminating all its aspects (anger, fear, etc) will die also the Iness and the desire. By eliminating the one main aspect of ego the ego dies in all its aspects and we are free. Of course in the practical field we work to eliminate the ego in its different aspects because this is more efficient.

[@3877michael]

That is a load of hate and confusion. There is nothing wrong with identity or with our ego. This is pure self hatred and bunk. You cannot strive for what you are when you are what you are. We say I hate my ego or I hate my mind so I will meditate for a few years. Hah. Or I hate my will and my emotions so I will suppress them... This is all ridiculous. First you see all kinds of faults then take every form of remedy. In the end you are still you...

[@MUSICOBLISS]

I'm with you

[@asstornaut1066]

the body can't be you. you can only be you. with or without your body.

[@alacer6150]

I don't know what and certainly not who I am except in the trivial sense of my given name and some personal history, although those are useful practically. I do know that because I can perceive my body then I can't be it. Same thing with my ego to the extent it is it known.

[@chetchetstein2936]

What about illness/pain, I have two auto-immune diseases and have had three runs of cancer, why? Am I somehow causing the suffering?

[@lillyinthepond]

Many questions that seem to be informed by the Quantum Physics lecture that was earlier in the program. I wonder what difference would it make if the audience first heard from Francis.

[@bilimoriafirdaus]

🙏🧡

[@mohamedladhaladha7997]

We think there is a free will,but in truth it doesn't exist.

[@mohamedladhaladha7997]

There is a law of Karma too,but that's a different subject.

[@jacquesboutelet8643]

I shared your video with someone she was shocked that you said WHAT when you could not hear a question instead of I beg your pardon ?

[@atmannityananda-academia]

POINTERS ABOUT FREE WILL First. We cannot speak about free will in general. Each individual is in a different level of consciousness. What is valid for one person it is not for another. For example a liberated one (such as Buddha) and a deluded one have an altogether different state of consciousness and a different ability to exercise their free will. Second. We must have a clear view about free will. In my view, free will is the ability to decide in harmony with our soul which in its turn is in harmony with the universal Soul. Free will is also the ability to decide according to our understanding, discernment and what we feel in our heart that is appropriate to do that very moment and not to act according to the mechanical compulsive egoic patterns, thoughts, desires or emotions. Third. The fact that the thoughts arise in our mind spontaneously and we do not know which one will be the next one that will arise in our mind, it is not a proof that we have not free will. We (as Buddhi or intelligence), we have the ability to decide if the thoughts that appear spontaneously, will remain or not in our mind. The ability to decide, what thoughts will permit to stay in our mind or not, and make this decision a fact, depends on the purity of our mind, buddhi and heart and the ability to use our mind as an instrument due to long time practice and purification. Ιn addition we can (if we want so and train our mind) direct our mind to think about things we want to and not let it wander aimlessly. We can program our mind and feed it with certain impressions and sense inputs in order to direct it ponder on issues that we decide (as the Buddhi or the intelligence we are) and not on those issues or objects that the ego (with its mechanical impulses, habits and patterns) wants to. It is up to us to decide what subjects we want our mind to reflect on. To go a step further, we can even to decide not to think at all if we are capable to do so. Of course this requires long time practice and steady determination. Fourth. An individual when is identified with the ego and its manifestations is a slave and a puppet of it. In this state of identification there is not talk about free will. The stronger the identification the stronger the inability to exercise our free will. On the other hand when we are detached from the body, mind and emotions and we are identified with the consciousness within we can exercise our free will. That means we can choose or decide to act according our deeper intelligence and in harmony with our soul. Finally I want to point out one more time that free will does not mean that we have an absolute free will to do anything we want independently of our Soul and Universal Soul or God. The fact that the ordinary people do whatever arise in their minds considering this as free will is just ignorance. They are almost always slaves of the compulsive egoic tendencies that occupy their conscious mind and they do what the egoic impulses want, and certainly this is not free will or choice. Deluded by the hypnotic power of the ego they may think that have free choice, that they have the freedom to decide what they want to do, but this is only a delusion. The notion that they are free to decide between two desires or impulses is also false, because in this case it is the stronger desire or emotion the factor that determines what they will do. And these impulses or desires are unconscious tendencies that want to express themselves through the body mind entity. Free will can be exercised only when we are detached from the egoic mind and we are aligned with our soul and intelligence within. It requires a great ability of Self-awareness, detachment and dispassion from the mind, thoughts emotions and impulses and a great ability of discernment and will power in order someone not to be deluded by the lower egoic energies and exercise his free will. And this matter it is not easy for ordinary people. Love and light Atman 

[@LunaIthil]

please let us all know, in whos opinion this is written?. and the level of conciousness is a illiusion, because that what is aware of my(doesnt exist, just to clarify) writing and what saw through your eyes, is permanent, and also presence is in pretty much everything. you should watch his speech again.

[@whatamiisitinme6873]

+AeonTv I think what your calling consciousness is really just the mind, and its understanding of things. consciences is the observer, it is not thought, or understanding. consciousness is the observer, whether we are in ignorance or enlightened, the same consciousness abides in everyone, whether we see it or not

[@atmannityananda-academia]

WhatAmI IsItInMe the obsserver of the Mind amd objects is the intellect on which is reflected the consciousness. Without the Mind and intellect we cannot observe anything. Consciousness only IS, neither sees nor hears it is actionless; and as it is reflected on the intellect makes the intellect capable to observe. If consciouses was the observer then the auto-observation could happen automatically, but it doesn't; and also consciousness should also observe the deep sleep but I doesn't; we are unconscious in deep sleep because the intellect is sleeping.

[@whatamiisitinme6873]

***** no man, the observer is God for a lack of a better term. you really love the sound of your intellect, you need to stop thinking so much. its full of delusions, nothing you have said is right. an no im not going to debate such delusions

[@atmannityananda-academia]

WhatAmI IsItInMe better for you not to discuss. Om peace!

[@riverusk1977]

How would you correlate the infinite mind to the thoughts and the actions of a serial killer? If in the finite mind he is not free to decide, then those destructive thoughts may come to fruition by the free will of the supreme conciuosness?

[@dharmmasangha9133]

yes I am looking for that answer too

[@TheKstuart]

You are telling George Lucas - "How dare you have such a bad character as Darth Vader!" or telling Arthur Conan Doyle the same about Moriarty. Check the clarification at 32:21 . Although I have to remind myself that most KZbin comment writers don't watch the video... It's also helpful to have his overall philosophy, which he gives at 36:56 .

[@mrthegrievous]

I have to enlighten you, that Lucille lied in that answer (or didn't know it). In reality there is no such thing as free will for anybody or anything. The infinite mind / counsciousness / universe - actually the infinite Planck scale void! - is perfectly inhuman. It has no morality, it has no reasons or goals. It has no decisions. The whole thing is just IS. This substratum in the Planck void is information. There are patterns of information, and that's it. The serial killer is an unlucky, and malicious pattern. He cant be another thing, the universe doesnt want anything with him, he is just a necessary pattern that comes into being inevitably amongst the infinite other ones. Dont be angry with the poor guy, but separete him from society or try to correct his patterns. So once again: there is no free will for the universe, nothing has authority or agency, just ininitely complex fractal patterns unfolding. You are this all encompassing Planck space, and you know about that. Time and space are rubbish. They are most likely just emergent phenomena, and we percive them with our rudimentary sense organs this way, but most likely the universe is virtual. Think about is. Consciousness, and the percieved qualia in it are VIRTUAL. It would be logical that there are no two types of things that the univ. is made of. "Matter" becomes increasingly elusive. Now we already just have fields. No particles. The "particles" are just excitations of fields. We are on the verge of declaring that everything is just information and that is my friend VIRTUAL! The Vedas and Buddhist texts are also referring to this inherent nothingness. They just didnt have the virtual reality expression in their vocabulary. Imagine space like we have space in a computer game. The character in the game experiences vast spaces around himself, but we know its rubbish, " he" is just in an illusion. Thats the kind of illusion we are also in. Not just we are not doers, there is no self, there are also no time and space as we know it. And most likely the whole thing exists simultaneously, so there is no movement or change either :D :)!

[@NovoYoga]

@@mrthegrievous best response I have seen in years.

[@ananda224]

It is part of their script. They have no actual choice to do or not do, but they think they have free-will. The body and it's actions are automated by a power that is in charge of the events and creation of what you experience as this world. You can compare it to a simulation. The body is just a virtual character in this simulation, and the power is the computer system or program that is responsible for constructing and operating the simulation. Everything is according to a Divine plan.

[@zatoichiable]

you have free will to choose all the food the chef prepared for you. which ever you choose it will never be that which is not prepared by your chef.

[@aldousamin3240]

most insightful, as well as most relishable comment

[@TimoHuising]

Wow that's such a beautiful piece of art behind him! Does anyone know who the artist is?

[@oliviergoethals4137]

YOU ARE!

[@TimoHuising]

@@oliviergoethals4137 ❤

[@jacquesboutelet8643]

Who is the Universe?

[@holyvoid]

😁🙏😎

[@mohamedladhaladha7997]

There is no death either.

[@AntonySammeroff]

I want to see him debate Sam harris

[@antonvanhoorstede4429]

That would be interesting, but if Sam Harris is truly honest in the debate as a enlightend being, he will 100% agree with Francis that what Francis is saying IS our subjective experience and therefore truth on the side of subjectivity. Sam Harris will doubt that what is experienced subjectivily as truth IS the ultimate truth. Which you can call complete ignorance or being open to the possibility that what we subjectivily experience is just our experience and not ultimate truth. My personal view is that i think Sam Harris knows very well that the materialistic approach doesnt make much sense, but in order to attack religion(hardcore) he cannot talk about God in any sense.

[@rajendrarajasingam6310]

Anton Van hoorstede It is true materialistic view doesn't make much sense but we are living in a material world searching for power,wealth and sensual pleasures kindled by our senses and desires.We have the freedom to free ourselves from this bondage through religious teachings and freewill. This limited freedom not only allow us to make choices but held us responsible for our actions. It is true this world is a stage and we are just playing our roles but that does not mean we don't have any freedom. We can act within set boundaries but we must be held responsible..

[@besacb9694]

+Rajendra Rajasingam We can be held responsible for our actions, no doubt, but that doesn't mean we were free to choose. We're free in a sense, that is to say there are some conventional uses of the word where we distinguish, for instance, "forced at gunpoint" from "on our own accord".

[@AntonySammeroff]

determinsim is a great philosophia for anyone who wants to believe that they are not free to choose - but ultimately you are stilll going to wake up tomorrow and have to make decisions so accept that you are free to act and start making good decisions . end of story.

[@azman6568]

Sam Harris agreed with most principles of what is being said spiritually but disagrees with religion he says so in a talk and his book the end of faith

[@garypuckettmuse]

The questions are always such a mess. I guess people have no free will when they grab a mike and start blabbering about nothing. My question would be who even goes to these events and why . . .?

[@QED_]

He makes a mistake . . . that he should perfectly well know NOT to make. He's assuming that the general realization of non-dual awareness . . . makes you competent to speak authoritatively about the specific details that make up the content of that awareness. Wrong. Specialized skills and knowledge are required for that. The nature of human emotions is an example . . .