Excerpted from a talk at Cambridge Zen Center on May 7, 1993
Question: What's the relationship between karma and free will?
Zen Master Seung Sahn: Even if you decide, you cannot decide anything.
When you are born, already everything has been determined. So, everything is already
decided. Decide... something will happen. Don't decide... something will happen. I ask
you: Why were you born in this world? Why?
Q: I'm here talking to you so...
ZMSS: That's just an idea. Talking, what kind of "talking to
me"? "I" is not necessary. I ask you.
Q: You already know.
ZMSS: Ah, I don't know. So, when you are born... we say "put it all
down." That means when you are born, already your karma appears. So, if you want to
understand your past life, look at what you receive now. What do you get, now? If you want
to understand your previous life... what do you do now?
Q: So, my question is: at this moment, is there something that I am
deciding? Or is there no such thing as a decision? Am I deciding what will happen to me?
Or maybe I don't have to decide anything?
ZMSS: Decide anything?
Q: Do I have free will or don't I?
ZMSS: Who said that?
Q: That's the point. Is there something that decides or is there nothing
that decides?
ZMSS: Of course. If you decide to come into this world, "you can
decide" is possible. But even if you decide something, you cannot get anything.
Q: I was afraid of that. [laughter from the audience]
ZMSS: If I want a life that lasts a thousand years... it's not possible!
Before one thousand years, already you are dead. So, if you understand what human beings
arewhat this world is really like-then you understand that you cannot decide anything. You
only have this moment. If this moment is clear, then your whole life is clear. Also, your
next life is clear. "This moment clear" means: "What are you doing now?
Just do it!" Do not make a choice this way or that. Even with a choice you cannot get
anything- that's human beings! But if you attain this moment, you can do anything --
that's the point. You must attain this moment. Then you can do anything. If you lose this
moment, you cannot do anything. I give you this as a present... very important. Also very
expensive, but you don't have to pay today. [laughter from audience] Free -- good Zen
Master, eh? [more laughter from audience]
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