We make choices every day. Our efforts are, for the most part, a result of our choices. For example, we choose comfort and make efforts to acquire a comfortable home. We choose taste and make efforts to prepare tasty food. We choose social interaction and make efforts to organise social gatherings. Do we have a choice in a meditative state? When we witness every sensation, every thought, and do not react, do we still have a choice?
Somebody will say that Buddha is in a state of enlightenment, and therefore, he should not have a choice. Does that mean Buddha will now join the army and start attacking the other kingdom? Does that mean that Buddha will now start participating in the social gossip? Does that mean that Buddha will start participating in office politics? Does that mean that Buddha will now be in a vegetative state, and anybody can come and waste his time? No. Not at all. On the contrary, Buddha will no longer be in a people-pleasing mode. We please people and participate in all that nonsense because we want validation from the people around us. We want to be in their good books because we can't withstand solitude. It's "safer" to be in a group. That doesn't mean that Buddha is daring, and he doesn't care about his safety. On the contrary, Buddha has realized the falsity behind that "mental concept" of security that we feel by being a part of the group and by carrying an image of being "friendly" and "nice".
Does that mean Buddha will disregard everybody around and isolate himself? No. Not at all. That is another extreme. Buddha did not take any of the extreme paths. He took the middle path. The middle path means the path that is closest to the "state of being". Buddha realized the reality of being, and that's why he was full of love and compassion. Love and compassion were the sole guides of his life. He would definitely make choices, but his choices will be guided by "awareness" of the reality rather than blindly following his instincts. Not so that he would sleep on the thorns, but also he would not crip not having a comfortable bed. Not so that he would eat the food having the worst taste, but he would not complain if he did not get tasty food. Not so that he would reject the company of people, but he will not complain if he has no followers. He can explore the layers and layers of self in solitude.
Thus, the choices of aware people are guided by love, compassion, and awareness of the layers and layers of self. That's why it is quite difficult for most people to understand that. The choice of Sri Aurobindo, when he decided to leave the freedom struggle and go for an inner journey, was guided by that "awareness" of the temporariness of the political systems and the need for spiritual guidance by the people in a free country. The choice of Mahatma Gandhi was guided by deep love and compassion for all entire humanity. These choices carry a very strong force. Strong enough to destroy the sense of "self" and our entire thought process. That's why the people making these choices are often surprised by their own decisions, and it is difficult to say who made these choices. That's why the question is who makes the choices. The limited "ego" or the conscious "awareness".
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