from Yogis, Destiny and the Wheel of Time - ch. 11
The best definition of predestination I quote is from the
Valmiki Ramayana when Lord Rama explained the working
of destiny to Lakshmana (his brother):
"That
which we come to know of only when it happens - joys or sorrows
- is the result of our karma; that which can be nothing else
except the results of our karmas is destiny: who can fight
that destiny?"
"Happiness and unhappiness, fear and anger, birth and
death and like so many other events whose reason is not known,
is the working of destiny."
"Even rishis doing severe spiritual penances, give up
their practices, stricken by lust and anger and fall from
their ideals which is a result of the working of destiny."
"That which happens for which we are least prepared,
and suddenly upsets our work which is well begun, is destiny
and its working."
Lord
Rama also showed the way one should face destiny: accept it,
let the working of destiny come to its logical end, yet never
leave the path of virtue and never give up spiritual practices.
All the great saints I have met have followed the path shown
by Lord Rama.
-
K.N. Rao
reprinted with permission
Copyright
2005. All Rights Reserved.
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