In Buddhism, the concept of free will exists within the context of karma. In the West, karma is usually thought of as a consequence. When something unfortunate happens, a person may say “bad karma!” meaning bad consequence.
In the Chinese traditions of Buddhism, which date back 2000 years and came directly from the Sanskrit sutras, sutras being the teachings of the Buddha, karma is understood to be a deed. This deed may be mental, verbal, or physical. But all are deeds, karmas.
The doing of this karma will have a consequence. This consequence will occur naturally, without an agent, essentially like the natural law of gravity. How might all this work. If I lie to a friend and she finds out, I’ll be in trouble with her. Perhaps this will happen immediately. Perhaps not for a long time. The timing of the cause is known, the timing of the consequence is not.
The timing of the consequence depends on conditions. Let’s say a co-worker says something to my friend and she suddenly realizes that I had lied to her. When the co-worker mentions something depends on activating conditions: being in the room with my friend, speaking with her, and mentioning what I lied about. When the activating conditions are present, my friend finds out I lied. She then angrily confronts me with what she has learned.
For purposes of discussion, let’s bring in free will here. Causes have been planted. The consequences have matured because the necessary conditions occurred. I now have two basic choices: own up or deny. And here is the free will at work. Admitting to myself that what I did was wrong, I make a conscious decision and choose to confess to what I had done. I choose to tell my friend that I am sorry and that I apologize for having not been honest with her. I choose to tell her that I will not lie to her again and that I hope she will accept my apology. I choose to tell her I will understand if she needs time to forgive me and that I hope she will give me another chance because I value her friendship.
I choose to do all this because I realize that the choices I make will bear consequences. And not for just this lifetime. And not in equal portion to what I did. Unresolved animosities increase over time as they are passed back and forth between those involved.
Free will is a vital part of our awakening, our becoming enlightened. The Buddha taught about karma to help us understand that we reap what we sow. It is said that “Unawakened beings fear consequences. Awakened beings fear causes.” So we need to wisely create good causes.
Free will is what helps us to mindfully and calmly look at our choices of what to say, think, and do, and decide how to adhere to the basic precepts of keeping our minds pure, doing good, and avoiding all that is bad.
Free will is understanding that we operate subject to our past causes, and current consequences and conditions. Within those constraints I need to—and have the ability to—make the wisest choices I can so that ultimately I will attain enlightenment and work to fulfill my vow to help all beings.