Destiny vs free will.

Destiny vs free will.

Free will Vs Destiny.






As per Wikipedia

Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded. Some conceive free will to be the capacity to make choices in which the outcome has not been determined by past events. Determinism suggests that only one course of events is possible, which is inconsistent with the existence of free will thus conceive.

Destiny Vs the freewill.
Freewill- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia -Free will is the ability to choose between different possible courses of action unimpeded. Some conceive free will to be the capacity to make choices in which the outcome has not been determined by past events. Determinism suggests that only one course of events is possible, which is inconsistent with the existence of free will thus conceived.
The underlying questions are whether we have control over our actions, and if so, what sort of control, and to what extent.
Efforts of will theory is related to the role of willpower in decision making.
Gita says "Karmanye vadika raste ma phaleshu kadachana", which means that one should go on performing an action without thinking about the result. One has to remember that success is not in his hands. He will get the desired result if God has stored it in his destiny.
What I understand from what Sri Bhagwad Gita says is that we have the freedom to operate within the circle of destiny.
Now let’s call this freedom, ‘freewill’. This leeway or free will is a freedom to operate within the control of circumstances, time (Good or bad) kaal or samay in Hindi, constraints, and impediments.
With the dearth of opportunities and intense competition these days, the pressures to perform are intense but still, the chances of success keep on constricting or depleting in the view of intense competition.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna, "The Supreme dwells in the heart of all beings

revolving them all by His mysterious power, Maya." The Supreme, however, does not control

living entities as a puppeteer controls puppets. The control is through a subtle mechanism

that works under material nature (Prakriti). The Gita says, "Everywhere, in all the material

universes, the dispositions of nature gunas of Prakriti  perform all works. But deluded by

egoism, man thinks, 'i am the doer'."

The Padma Purana says that the fate of five things in one's life is already decided at the

time of one's conception in the womb ^ the aggregate wealth one will acquire, one's

occupation, education, lifespan, and when, where and how one will die. Happenings

associated with these five are preordained and will come to pass, no matter what, and can

be termed one's destiny. One's character, molded by one's samskaras, will then make one

act in such a manner that events play out as destined.

Are we mere cogs on a machine operated by the Supreme, or do we have free will at all to

act independently? Krishna tells Arjuna, "Thus I have imparted to you wisdom that is more

secret (profound) than all that is secret. Reflecting over the whole teaching, do as you think

fit." Here He clearly states that man does have free will to think and act independently.

Moreover, the Law of Karma, which is based on the concept of cause and effect makes us

the architects of our own destiny. To be able to shape our own destiny, free will becomes a

prerequisite. Without free will, the Law of Karma becomes inoperative.

We could use the limited free will that we have, to pursue purely material pleasures that  might degrade our future samskaras, or we could perform noble deeds which would

generate sattvic samskaras and help us evolve spiritually and ultimately take us to the goal

of human life, that is moksha.

Citing an illustrious example- Verghese Kurien, the father of white revolution in India
When Kurien applied for the Government of India scholarship to pursue higher education (he was a mechanical engineer) in the U.S., he was told that there was no scholarship left in his field and he could avail one in dairy technology. Finding no other alternative he opted for it but when he reached U.S., he was told that he could pursue an education in the field of his choice. This came as a pleasant surprise to him and provided the much-needed respite. When he came back to India, he was asked to go to Gujarat where the Amul Cooperative was being set up. One had to serve the government for a stipulated period as it was the government which had sponsored the trip. All his arguments and pleadings that he be given an assignment in his field fell on deaf ears. With the heavy heart, he went there, with the intention of leaving once the bond period was over. But destiny had something else in store for him. He worked there for whole life, and the rest is history. A mechanical engineer finally ended up working all his life among cows and cattle. It was probably in his destiny to be in such a profession. Although it did not happen in the first instance when Kurien went abroad but got manifested when he returned.
The case of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is also similar. He wanted to become a fighter pilot. But he failed to make it, which left him dejected and drew him towards spiritualism. But an ardent `Karmayogi' that he was, Kalam did not lose hope and instead decided to make planes, even as he could not fly one. The journey in which he forayed, made him the most eminent defense scientist of the country and later the president of India and one of the most popular ones at that.
There has been constant confusion here for the so-called self-styled saffron robe charlatans have added to the confusion. Instead of preaching in a steadfast unified manner they change their approach and sermons to suit the audience they address.

These charlatans in saffron robes keep changing their stance to suit the audience they are addressing. Freewill or will is the limited sphere that is different for every individual and it depends on the time, circumstances, effort, and opportunity. Bhagvad Gita teaches that to make the constant effort is what we should do but the outcome is not in our control. If the kaal or time is in favor then the fruits of labor may be good but if the time is not conducive the result may be a failure. I believe that the destiny allows you more leverage towards success when the destiny favors you. There are numerous examples quoted and stories that support the planning and execution part, remember the story of the king and the spider, well the often defeated king had planned, plotted and executed earlier also and failed because the time was just not in his favor. But once his time changed he could draw inspiration from a mere spider to regather his spirits and resources one last time that probably was the time when his stars and destiny stood up as support for him to reclaim the lost kingdom, pride, and glory. These scoundrels with saffron robes live lavishly and maintain a business on use of cleverly executed words that often rebut the belief on which they have raised the foundation of their enterprise. But then again the very fact that they are in limelight rests on the fact their time is good and even their foolishness is purchased as philosophical discourses on how to lead a good life