Free will and destiny
Free will and destiny
Although our life situations are predestined, the choices we make determine the unfolding of our subsequent destiny, says Shivi Verma
Our dimension is a plane of illusions and delusions. With so many theories, ideologies, and doctrines floating around, each claiming to be right, it is natural to get baffled and confused. To avoid the distress of looking for truth in the maze of conflicting ideas, we choose to stick with what we feel comfortable with, what does not challenge us or disturb us.
But life is not patient enough to let us live happily in our bubbles for as long as we want. It continues to poke and needle us till we get compelled to tear apart this self-created nebula of illusions and learn about ourselves and this world in the most authentic manner.
That is why the earth dimension is full of pain. For we do not embark on this journey until we have no choice but to go on this path. Of putting ourselves through the agonizing test of searching for truth in the haystack of multiple axioms and aphorisms claiming to be the last word on the human condition.
One such saying which has confounded me no end is the belief that God has blessed us with a free will, as well as its opposite, i.e., everything is predestined in our lives.
Since childhood, I was unconsciously yet intensely aware that freedom was restricted on this plane. I really couldn’t do as I pleased simply because every speech and action had consequences. And if I wanted to be treated kindly by life, I needed to follow my conscience and do the right thing even when no one was looking and regardless of whether it brought me pain or joy. If I acted out of covetousness or pride, I would have to pay its price sooner or later. Therefore, free will was an illusion. A free will with conditions was no free will at all, and if people were not blinded by ego and greed, they would see it clearly.
Secondly, on looking back and joining the dots of my life, I realised that yes, there was a destiny that I was tracking. Everything in my life was predestined and leading to a life purpose which I was unaware of at that time. But did it mean that everyone, whether a saint or a sinner, including myself, had no role in whatever was playing out in our lives? No, I realised I had the freedom to make a choice at each moment of my life and, thankfully, I had chosen the best for myself, unlike others who had chosen recklessly or blindly. For example, I had chosen to live and fight instead of giving into suicidal urges. This extreme step would have made me incur bad karma for grievously hurting my parents, the consequences of which I would have to suffer in my next life.
So how was destiny playing its role then? I realised that in this multiverse, the Divine Dramatist has arranged for the panning out of each and every action based on the choices made by an individual. There was a completely different Universe waiting to unravel itself with all its players, had I chosen to kill myself. In this multidimensional play of life, preset stages with their own scenes and acts exist to deliver to us the consequences of our decisions and actions. And all these worlds vibrate parallel to each other, whether we are aware of them or not. So, yes, we do choose which destiny we want to be a part of. Isn’t it interesting?