My understanding of the law of cause and effect is that it does not fix the future with 100% certainty because of karma, meaning here the variable of volitional action of body, speech and mind, but the Ten Powers of a fully realized Buddha seem to contradict this...
Can anyone clarify this issue for me? Specifically, if it is possible for a Buddha to foresee future rebirths of all sentient beings then how is it also possible for the future to not be 100% certain? If the future is 100% certain, how does this not degenerate into nihilism? Also, how is this reconciled with advances in quantum physics and insights into the uncertainty of phenomena even moments in the future, never mind eons in the future? If the case is that the future seems uncertain to unenlightened beings and certain to enlightened beings, why would the Buddha reveal this to unenlightened beings knowing that it would be extremely disheartening?Ten Powers (daśa-bala, 十力). Only a Buddha has perfect knowledge of (1) the right or wrong in every situation and its corresponding karmic consequences; (2) the karmic requitals of every sentient being in the past, present, and future; (3) all stages of dhyāna and samādhi; (4) the capacity and future attainment of every sentient being; (5) the desires and inclinations of every sentient being; (6) the nature and condition of every sentient being; (7) the consequences of all actions with or without afflictions; (8) all past lives of every sentient being and their karmic reasons; (9) all future rebirths of every sentient being and their karmic reasons; and (10) the permanent termination of all afflictions and habits upon attainment of Buddhahood.
As you can see by now, I am very confused by all this. I have no immediate Lama to speak to and so I am hoping that the community will be able to resolve some of these questions, steer me away from wrong view and point me in the right direction.
Many thanks,
Rob