Comment by andai

In my high school philosophy class, the teacher lamented that we replaced the deterministic Newtonian "billiards" model of the universe for the Quantum "incomprehensible randomness" model of the universe, which is somehow even less satisfying as far as free will goes.

Buddhism arrives at no free will from a different angle: the universe is interdependent, there's no "self" to be found in consciousness, etc.

Amusingly, my meditation textbook starts with the advice to form a clear, strong intention to meditate every day.[0]

That sounds like optimal use of the supposedly nonexistent free will to me!

[0] The Mind Illuminated, by Culadasa. Relevant excerpt reproduced here: https://nekolucifer.substack.com/p/first-form-a-clear-intent...