DESTINY OR FATE

DESTINY OR FATE

  You are the architect of your own destiny. Either you make or mar yourself. It is all in your hands and the actions you involve yourself in. Destiny is sometimes called Fate! It is felt that our fate or destiny is predetermined and everything happens according to it. There are many who believe in this and many more who disbelieve. But there is no doubt that man’s destiny is determined by the nature of his actions, thoughts, and desires. According to our Sastras, it is our actions that are responsible for our high or low status, luxury or poverty, liberty or bondage. It is also believed that whatever man aspires for during his existence on earth, he attains it after his death! Action, physical or mental is called Karma and this decides the birth, status, luxury or poverty. In other words, man’s conduct and character, attitude, intelligence, happiness and misery are earned by the individual during his past life. Man’s next life, status, his rise and fall is entirely dependent on his activities or Karma in the present life.

“You are born for your own sake, not for the sake of anyone else. You have to cure yourself of the disease of ignorance, just as you have to cure yourself of the disease of hunger.  No one else can save you from both” counsels Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. Man is born to work out his own destiny! He has to serve out the sentence that he has decreed for himself. When the sentence is served totally he becomes free. There is a mistaken belief that God is responsible for the misery and happiness of man. Man blames Providence for his failures and difficulties. God is the silent witness to all our Karma, good and bad. He is “Sakshibhuta” a neutral, silent spectator of man’s actions. He dispenses results according to man’s Karma dispassionately and impartially.“As you sow so you reap” Good karma leads to good returns: bad deeds result in bad results. God has no part to play in the joys and sufferings of individuals! It is human ignorance that propels man to think like that!

Even man’s mind is bound by the Karma one has accrued in his previous birth! That is why we say ”Buddhih  karmanusarini”—mind follows the type of Karma that one has to his credit. Otherwise how can we explain the inequalities that we find in creation? Why are people born deaf and dumb, rich and poor, clever and dull, soft and gentle, arrogant and proud? The doubt arises whether God is partial to some and cruel to others! It cannot be. Those with disabilities make themselves eligible for it by their own karma in their previous existence. In other religions there is no explanation for the misery and suffering. They say it is God’s will! It is only in Hinduism, we have a logical explanation for everything that man enjoys or suffers

Can we escape from Karma to avoid its effects? It is absolutely impossible. Man cannot exist even for a single second without Karma! Every action of yours, eating, drinking, thinking, respiration are all Karmas! Man’s life is an example of cause and effect. There is nothing that happens without proper reason however accidental or mysterious it may be. The roots are very deep and invisible. Newton’s Law is an expression of the law of Karma! “Every action has an equivalent and opposite reaction” Karma is a double edged weapon! It can save a person or kill him.” It is like the cat that bites; it bites the kitten in order to carry it in its mouth to a place of safety; it bites the rat in order to kill. Become the kitten and Karma will rescue you like a loving mother. Become a rat and you are lost” exhorts Swami in his Divine discourse.(SSS Vol 1)

As the Lord says in the Bhagavadgita we have the authority to do our duty or Karma without expectation of any reward. “ Karmanyevadhkarasthu ma phaleshu kadachana” All Karma or action should be offered to God! “Offer the Karma at the feet of God. Let it glorify Him; let it further His splendor. Be unconcerned with the success or failure of the endeavor; then death can have no noose to bind you with.  Then Death will come as a liberator not a jailor” says Swami on Karma (SSS Vol 5) Swami suggests that all actions have to be performed as actors in a play. Individual identity should be kept separate. Too much attachment for the role should be avoided. Act your part well and do your duty. Leave the rest to God! Let us understand the significance of Karma and release ourselves by offering it to God!