One gets accustomed to the idea that there is an entity here called a "me' with volitional control on all the actions of the body (which one calls "my body"). Voluntary means "acting in accord with one's own will". In contrast, there is the word "involuntary" which means"independent of one's own will or not by one's own choice". Now, let us examine the question of free choice or will. Before any action, a thought arises. After the thought comes the action. But, do you actually have any control over your thoughts? Or, do thoughts arise spontaneously? When one says "I have a free choice on what I do", it means that one also has free choice on what thoughts arise, since thoughts precede any action including speech. If one had a free choice over thoughts, why would one ever choose to have bad or unwanted thoughts? Can anyone deny the fact that bad or unwanted thoughts arise spontaneously and not to one's choosing? It is amazing that so much is written about why one should avoid bad or unwanted thoughts. But, the fact is that no one can control thoughts. Fortunately, not all thoughts are expressed as actions or speech. But, how often, have you not said "I wish I had not done that". Or, "I have no idea why I did that", or "what was I thinking when I said that (or did that)". If one had volitional control on one's actions, then we would never have anything like regret!
Thoughts like everything else is part of the universal functioning, functioning that is not within the control of an entity called "me". Now, the same universal functioning is also responsible for what we call the 'involuntary actions'. When we say "involuntary", we assume that these are actions which are not under the control of a "me". For instance, the process of making urine, the process of digestion, the process of beating of the heart, and the growing of the finger nails, are all not under the control of a "me". Therefore, it is very convenient to throw it into a category called "involuntary" and forget about it. That is right, forget about it. It is exactly this forgetting about IT, that is the cause of all suffering(and the reason why you are reading this message)!! But, if one starts inquiring into what exactly do we mean when we say involuntary, a lot of questions arise which need to be answered. If it is involuntary, it means not under "my control". Well, then what about your involuntary actions? The same answer is given by you. In the same way, every person will give the same answer. In that case, who is in control of these so called "involuntary actions"? Logic dictates that there has to be an answer to this question. We can't just dismiss it as just another function of the body. Because, in that case, the next question is, "why is it that a dead person no longer has these involuntary actions, like beating of the heart, or digestion, or making of urine, etc.?". If the answer is "because a dead person has no life in him/her", then another question arises " what exactly do you mean by 'life'?". Invariably, one gets drawn back to one's own source as the answer to all questions.
By using the word 'involuntary action' ( not according to one's will), one indicates the fact that there is someone or something other than you that is the cause of the action. Then, who is that someone or something? Can you answer this question? If not, would it not be appropriate to inquire further into this matter to reach a conclusive answer? Without an answer, can one still insist on the presence of a free will, a free will that is responsible for voluntary action but not know who is responsible for the other action (the involuntary action)? Or, can we not just stop using the words 'voluntary' and 'involuntary', and just relax into accepting the universal functioning just the way it IS? Accepting what IS rather than resisting what IS? Accepting what IS, rather than categorizing into "I like this" and "I don't like this"?
