"It might be said that within the limits of the intelligent direction of the intelligent man, there is free will, as far as activity in the human kingdom is concerned. Where no mind activity is present, and where there is no power to discriminate, to analyse and to choose, there is no free will. Within the vaster processes of the Plan, however, as it includes the entire planetary evolution, there is, for the tiny unit, man, no free will. He is subject, for instance, to what we call 'acts of God', and before these he is helpless. He has no choice and no escape. Herein lies a hint upon the working of karma in hte human kingdom; karma and intelligent responsibility are inextricable woven and interwoven." (Esoteric Psychology, Vol. II, p. 29)
"The great distinction between the human kingdom in the three worlds, and the other kingdoms in nature, is the factor of freewill. In the matter of death, this freewill has, in the last analysis, a definite relation to the soul; the will of the soul is either consciously or unconsciously followed, where the decision of death is concerned, and this idea carries with it many implications, which students would do well to ponder." (Esoteric Healing, p. 248)
"Mankind is oft unpredictable, owing to the factor of free will." (The Rays and the Initiations, p. 231)
"(The following) are points which it will be difficult for you to grasp, but which are of major importance:
The human being is influenced upon the path of evolution from above downwards; the initiate is directed from within upwards. It is this which formulates the underlying significance of the energy of the free will, and is something only truly possible through self-direction; this can be seen struggling for expression today in that great world disciple, Humanity." (The Rays and the Initiations, p. 566)
"Men decide for themselves direct action; they make their own choices and exert unimpeded the free will with which they may at any time be equipped." (The Rays and the Initiations, p. 640)
"Christ and the spiritual
Hierarchy never -- no matter how great the need or important the
incentive -- infringe upon the divine right of men to take their
own decisions, to exert their own free will, and to achieve freedom
by fighting for freedom -- individually, nationally, and internationally.
When true freedom covers the earth, we shall see the end of tyranny
-- politically, religiously and economically. I am not here referring
to modern democracy as a condition which meets the needs, for
demoncracy is at present a philosophy of wishful thinking, and
an unachieved ideal. I refer to that period which will surely
come, in which an enlightened people will rule; these people will
not tolerate authoritarianism in any political system; they will
not accept or permit the rule of any body of men who undertake
to tell them what they must believe in order to be saved,
or what government they must accept. When the people are
told the truth, and when they can freely judge and decide for
themselves, we shall then see a much better world." (The
Reappearance of the Christ, p. 164/5)
"The Hierarchy -- because of
the divine principle of free will in humanity -- cannot foretell
how men will act in times of crisis; the Hierarchy cannot enforce
the good way of life against normal human disire, for this good
way of action must come from out of the very depths of human thinking
and feeling, and must emerge as a free and non-supervised endeavour;
the Hierarchy may not take those possible steps which will prevent
men making mistakes, for it is through those mistakes that men
learn 'by the means of evil, that good is best', as your great
initiate-poet has expressed it." (The Externalisation
of the Hierarchy, p. 636)