Fate and Free Will

We Need Both Fate And Free Will

 By: Dada J P Vaswani on May 20, 2012 Times of India.

Q: Are we free agents or puppets in the hands of Destiny? Could we change our fate?
One view is that you are a prisoner of fate. Whatever you do, you simply cannot change it. Another view is that we are absolutely free. You have freedom of choice between picking right or wrong. At every step of life, you can make the effort to improve your condition. Acting thus, you could change your karma and so alter your destiny.

These two aspects of an individual’s condition are like the twin blades of a pair of scissors. The first is ichcha shakti, freedom of choice; the second is prarabdha karma, accumulated karma. When the two blades act together, the scissors does its job. You cannot cut a piece of cloth with just one blade of the scissors. Likewise, fate and free will are both necessary for action.

Karma determines many things that you cannot change. It determines the type of family into which you are born, your race and the type of body in which you are born.       You might wish to change the shape of your nose or increase your height by a few centimeters and perhaps technology finds a way to do all this. Yet, there is scope for free will even in situations where change seems impossible. You always have the choice of  reacting to your fate in either a positive or negative manner. This is always within your power!

Q:Why are we not born equal?
A: All are created equal. But in the same family, all children do not have equality of ability or intelligence. Is this inequality the result of karma? If so, is it fair? The answer to both questions, is ‘yes’. You are the architect of your own destiny. Every thought, emotion, wish and action creates karma. The good or bad we do affects us, and remains with us until we balance them out.

Do you know the story of a Polish Air Force pilot, Roman Tursky? He was flying over Germany when he had to make a forced landing. He sent his plane for repairs and spent the night in a hotel. The next morning, in the corridor, a man came running and collided against him. He was pale with fear and cried, "Gestapo! Gestapo!" He was being hounded by the Secret Police. Tursky pushed the man into his room, under his bed. Soon the police came in and interrogated Tursky. He did not understand their language, and the police went away.

The pilot offered to take this man to Warsaw where he was flying, but helped him get off a little before reaching the airport, as the police there could search his plane. Sure enough, when he landed at Warsaw, the police was already there to make a search for the man.

Soon thereafter, in the Second World War, Poland was occupied by Germany. Tursky flew to England and joined the RAF, and became a war hero. He was a brave man, but his plane crashed. The critically injured Tursky was taken to the nearest hospital; he’d slipped into coma. When he recovered, he found a man looking at him. He sid to Tursky,  "Do you remember me? You saved me. This morning I read the news that you were in coma, and I flew here." "What for?" asked Tursky. "Because," the man answered, "I wanted to help. They say that I am one of the best brain surgeons. I operated on you."



My view:

I always used to get confused between fate and free will. If there is something called fate, than what is the role of free will, or vice versa. This article has helped to clear that confusion to some extent. Fate and free will go hand in hand, both affecting each other. I also think that iccha shakti and prabhadh karma is same as free will and fate. It is I feel very similar to concept as shown in the movie triology of The Matrix. Life gives you options wherein you got to decide your choice. This choice is your free will. Depending on the choice you make, your fate gets decided. Its like a chemical reaction. The outcome of a reaction is based on the reactants and the catalyst. Different reactants gives different outcomes. But the outcome with a particular reactants always yield definite results. For eg.: Na + Cl ------>NaCl while Na + HCO3------->NaHCO3 while Na + SO4------->Na2SO4. So the fate of Sodium and Chlorine atom coming together is decided, so also is the fate of Sodium and carbonate or Sodium and Sulphate. Its upto the free will of Sodium to make a choice as to which element/molecule it needs to bind with to form the corresponding salt! Good choices lead to good future and bad choices lead to bad.

Fate is not in our hand, but free will is. So it is absolutely essential for us to make the right choices and leave everything else to fate!

Recognise The Tipping Point: Anant G Nadkarni

    At a healing session, the facilitator was explaining the importance of developing an attitude of gratitude by saying that: ‘Just for today let us all be grateful’. At first it seemed simple and appropriate, but deeper meanings unfolded as time passed by. A lot of work in emotional management is based on affirming an intention or a wish with immense faith, positive thinking and so on to create a sphere of an appreciative attitude and an overall space of abundance. It begins with dealing with an issue rather than actually resolving it. Specifically, the practice of being grateful is routed into realising the value of what is ‘already’ there – in material terms and also in its existential flavour. 

    On the other hand, one has to also look at issues, damaging incidents which occurred in the past, longterm strained relationships and other, perhaps tougher, problems. All these sometimes holds one into the more trivial pursuit of getting to that which is yet not there or setting a thing right that seems to be going wrong. Of course, that would include suffering of sorts, possible lack of peace and spiritual pursuit as well. This process operates more in a domain of fulfilling necessities or felt-needs for things one apparently does not have. It may be further assumed that there is a journey that could take one towards something better. 

    Psychoanalysis and various forms of emotional-management tools often dwell in the realms of what is not there or what ought to be there in the future. This may help to initially get issues to surface, find some clarity, create awareness, influence a change or make some kind of difference. 

    This process needs to be taken farther and developed, to help us realise and cultivate a practice such as gratitude from even the small things we receive to enable us to surmount much bigger difficulties – by constantly heightening our ability to be with what is ‘already’ there. In the final analysis, whether it is called a breakthrough, contentment, enlightenment, moksha or nirvana, it is all about That which ‘already and always’ exists! 

    Sigmund Freud believed that the ‘ego’ was the first illusion in identity that built other illusions. When Sri Ramana Maharshi was requested for blessings or grace he used to say that grace was ‘always’ there and one should rather bring one’s attention out from the realm of a ‘search for what is not there’ towards the more ‘already and always’. Early oriental practice of affirming ‘I am That (already)’ is an example of remaining in what is available. Or, a process of enquiry (generally as in “Who am i”?) was used to do the same shift. On someone referring to his suffering, Sri Ramana kept the issue of suffering aside and asked rather awkwardly, “find out for whom is that suffering?” 

    Once a problem is clearly identified and it surfaces through various techniques, the challenge seems to be more one of helping one let go those realms (rather than remain there, try to heal or solve something). The tipping point is to know when to shift into another habitual realm like in “just for today being grateful” for what one receives to create the much desired happiness out of life ‘already’ there. And then perhaps one may gradually scale higher levels in the continuum of consciousness and realise that what is ‘already’ there was also ‘always’ present! (The writer champions corporate sustainability). 
    anantg.nadkarni@gmail.com 

My View:

Being grateful is the most important virtue available to mankind. It is simple law of physics... what you give, you receive in equal magnitude. You give gratitude, appreciation, thankfulness to every big and small thing of your life, they will also show their appreciation to you. I never forget someone who has appreciated me, and look for every opportunity to thank him. I think same thing happens with everyone/ everything/ everywhere... universally for all living and inanimate things.. This is law!

Being grateful can help one achieve greatest heights imaginable, keeps you happy, keeps everyone around you happy, you never fail to succeed, have every solutions to every problems.

I tried a small exercise for 30 days. I tried to think of 10 things which I am really grateful for. Look for good things in every setback of life, every strained relations, every bad situation. And believe me, that exercise changed me and my life forever!! Just give it a try and you will realize how beautiful your life is, how lucky you are and on another plane, just see the Magic unfold!

Gratitude is a single simplest way to make your life magical!

Love the last paragraph and especially the last line, "And then perhaps one may gradually scale higher levels in the continuum of consciousness and realise that what is ‘already’ there was also ‘always’ present! 

Thank You Mr. Nadkarni for this wonderful piece of essay :)