Destiny and Self-effort

The Law of Karma is inexorable, yet there is scope for divine grace. Grace comes through penitence, austerity, and devotion. Penitence does not alter the Law of Karma. It is an act that has its fruit like any other act. What one has to reap cannot be altered by the individual; but its recurrence can certainly be checked by self-effort.

Self-effort is purushartha. Destiny is prarabdha. Prarabdha is only purushartha which has been done in previous births. The self-effort of today becomes the destiny of tomorrow.

Just as the present becomes the past and the future becomes the present, just as there is only the present, so also, there is only purushartha. When God works through a human being, it is purushartha. Rainfall and weather conditions are not under human control. Yet, a farmer ploughs the fields; he exercises self-effort. The crop may fail due to lack of rain. Still, the farmer continues to try his best for a good harvest. Similarly, yoga practice is self-effort to neutralize negative prarabdha. If prarabdha is powerful, yoga is more powerful. Every soul is like a farmer with a plot of land. The acreage, nature of the soil and weather conditions are all predetermined. The farmer is at liberty to till the earth, fertilize it and get food crops, or to allow it to remain as a wasteland.

Prarabdha concerns the past only. The future is in your hands. You can change your destiny. You have a free will to act. Arm yourself with discrimination, cheerfulness, discernment, alacrity, and undaunted spirit. A glorious future awaits you. Let the past be buried. Do not give up hope. You can neutralize the effect of the negative influences and antagonistic dark forces that may operate against you. You can change the unfavorable circumstances into the best possible ones. You can nullify destiny. Destiny is you own creation. You have created your destiny through thoughts and actions. You can undo it by right thinking and right action.

Questions:

1. What are the three type of karma?

2. Describe the doctrine of reincarnation.

3. What is the difference between the doctrine of karma and fatalism?