Satsang with Swaha - Audio · Vasant Swaha

Love, Silence and Dance | What is Free Will? - O que é livre-arbítrio?

April 9, 2026·32 min·3 clips

Haridas asks why his mind wants revenge after escaping its control during a retreat.

The episode begins with Haridas sharing his post-retreat struggle, where his mind seeks revenge after he briefly escaped its control. Swaha responds by delving into the concept of free will, noting that people have always asked spiritual masters like Ramana, Osho, Lao Tzu, and Buddha about it. He explains that free will is a concern for the ego, which thrives on separation, allowing choices like going north or south, being a beach bum or working on Wall Street. Swaha gives examples of how this free will can lead to negative actions, such as stealing or destroying relationships through infidelity. He contrasts this with the awakened state, where there is no separation and thus no need for free will, as one lives in tune with existence. Swaha addresses Haridas's feeling of exhaustion, suggesting it stems from years of forcing oneself to survive, and advises that existence breathes you, so pushing is unnecessary. He discusses the difficulty of non-doing versus doing, which the ego understands better. Swaha talks about the need for the old self to collapse, which can only happen through higher understanding or consciousness, often accessed in satsang. He describes meditation as a combination of total relaxation and alertness, which is challenging because people often fall asleep when relaxing. Swaha shares that when the mind stops, waves of love, understanding, gratitude, or silence can emerge, proving the mind's absence. He encourages trust from glimpses of this state, even if fear remains. The episode includes a student's account of intense satsang leading to physical cleansing through illness, and Swaha advises kindness and gentleness through letting go. He concludes with a quote from Hafiz about resting and the hard work of separation from God, emphasizing sensitivity and presence.

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