The question of whether a man is bound by fate or has free will has exercised the human mind for ages. Many believe that everything in life is predetermined and there is nothing we can do about it. Others dismiss this as fatalism and hold that we have all the freedom to do and be whatever we want.
Which of these beliefs is true, or does the truth lie somewhere in between? Some people say that our destiny is determined by God. Others believe that each person is born under the influence of certain stars or planets, which decide their destiny. Destiny, they think, is an overwhelming force against which struggle is futile.
The fact is that we create our destiny by our actions. Our present condition is the result of past actions, whether of this life or earlier ones. Our future depends on what we think and do in the present. So we have the power to determine our fate. We can make it great by doing great things, or choose to be ordinary, or bring about our downfall with wrong actions. We have the freedom of choice; once we make that choice, it becomes our destiny.
Of course, there are some things we cannot change, such as the body we are born with, or our family or race. But even these result from past karma. We are born in a certain place and family because we have karmic accounts to settle in that place, and with others in the family.
All situations in our life that are seemingly caused by factors beyond our control are the result of past actions. Nothing is accidental or a product of what people commonly call luck. Each and every soul in this world is reaping the fruit—good or bad—of their actions.
This does not mean we are slaves of our past. We cannot change the past and we do not even know what all we have done in our earlier lives, but we can choose how we react when faced with the consequences of our actions. When we accept all situations in life as products of our ac-tions, we are saved from much worry and sorrow. A clear understanding of the law of karma brings the realisation that we are getting exactly what we deserve. Then we do not blame God or other people for our problems. Instead of grumbling or grieving, we can take heart from the fact that our accounts are being settled.
Such acceptance does not mean being passive. We can do all in our power to change things for the better. At the very least we can develop patience, tolerance and fortitude by facing adversi-ties—all these qualities make us stronger.
The law of karma operates even at the level of thoughts. When thoughts are acted upon, a bigger karmic account is created. As they say, “Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny”.
Thus, if we want a good future for ourselves, we need to start with good thoughts. This is a con-scious choice subject to our will.
Some people complain that they want to be positive but negative thoughts brought about by their circumstances thwart them. This is where meditation comes in.
Rajyoga meditation teaches us to transform our thinking and, thereby, our life. It begins with re-minding ourselves that we are souls, and dwelling on the soul’s innate qualities of peace, purity, love, and joy. We also remember that we are children of the Supreme Soul, our loving, benevo-lent, and Almighty parent.
Regular practice of Rajyoga helps us experience the peace and love within us, and draw more of the same from our Father, who is an inexhaustible source of virtues. When the soul is repeatedly imbued with goodness, one feels content and fulfilled, and damaging habits of the past lose their hold on us. As the quality of our consciousness changes, so do our actions, and, ultimately, our destiny.
B.K. Asha is director of the Brahma Kumaris’ Om Shanti Retreat Centre in Gurugram, Haryana.