The Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, Swami Swaroopananda, released a souvenir at Chinmaya Mission New Delhi titled ‘Doubts Dispelled’. It is a compilation of a series of questions – answers, from talks and satsangs, at various places with Swamiji.We are bringing this series of blogs based on that souvenir. The Nuances of Karma is the first blog of the series.
The action of today becomes the destiny of tomorrow.
– Swami Chinmayananda
Role of Destiny
The Ageless Debate – What is the role of destiny or fate in our lives? Is our life predetermined?
There is a common mistaken notion, that destiny and fate are predetermined. This implies that we have no choice in the matter. We have to express and live through situations, experiences, joys and sorrows that come to us unasked, and often undeserved, without any effort on our part.
Law of Karma
Understand that this birth is not an accident and destiny is not a God-bidden command. In this world, nothing happens without a reason.
The law of nature is, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ According to Law of Karma, our past actions and desires are the seeds we harvest in the form of our present life – the period of history we find ourselves in, the family we are born into, the environment in which we live. We have chosen this particular project, this life, ourselves.
Role of Our Desires
When we embark on any mission, a certain amount of planning is required. We keep in mind the objective to be achieved, draw up a detailed blueprint and then execute it accordingly. At the planning stage, there is a certain amount of latitude, but once the project is implemented, there is no going back. So, we take birth according to what we previously had chalked out. We may regret it, but are now left with no option, since this was the choice we exercised earlier.
Karma and Self-effort
Based on our desires, we chose our parents. We may try to change them, distance ourselves from them, but they will still be our parents. We have their genes and are stuck with them! It is our destiny. But, who created this destiny? Our own past actions have shaped it . Therefore since past actions created our present destiny, our self-effort or actions in the present will determine the future – Law of Karma. We cannot escape the consequences of our past actions, not just in the recent past, but also in the distant past beyond memory.
Destiny & Self-Effort
Years ago, as a teenager you taped rock music or heavy metal on a cassette. As an adult your tastes become refined; you decide to listen to jazz. But when you play the cassette will you get jazz? No, you will only get heavy metal. To hear jazz, you will have to tape over it. Then suddenly, one day you become spiritual. Will the same cassette play bhajans? No, again you will have to re-tape the bhajan you now wish to hear.
Re-taping is your self-effort; re-playing is your destiny!
Read other articles by Swami Swaroopananda