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DOUBTS AND CLARIFICATIONS
DOUBT: When I read this chapter, I get
a thought that everything is predestined.
I am unable to agree. Is there no
scope for ‘Free will’?
CLARIFICATION: That you won’t agree is also
predestined. That is your swabhava. The combination of Gunas that makes you will
incite you to act in a particular way.
The only free will we have is to turn towards the Paramaatman. There is no free will in worldly
affairs. Where do you think you have
your Free will? In your birth? On the instruments (body, mind, buddhi etc.)
that you got? The family, town, caste,
community, country that you are born in?
On the talents that you possess?
On the actions that you get involved in?
On the fruits of your actions?
The situation you are put into, as a result of actions of others? The impacts caused by happenings remotely connected
to you?
There was an economic crisis recently. Thousands lost jobs and returned from Dubai. Many of those running small and medium
industries closed down their industries and returned. These small industried were reliant on larger
ones. The larger ones, in turn, were
reliant on the Sheikh’s company. Both
job orders and funds flowed from top.
Everything seemed normal till this crisis exploded. The employees earned fairly high salaries. Owners of small scale industries made huge
profits. There were sudden tremours in
far off America. More than three hundred
banks declared bankruptcy. Tremours were
in ths USA. Is Dubai not far off? How could Dubai be affected? But, Sheikhs of Dubai had legally and
illegally stacked their money in American banks. Fund flow from the top stopped. Smaller companies resorted to reduction in
employee strength and closure. The
bigger companies were pushed to a situation where they had to continue the work
without being paid. Everyone was
suffocated, but continued with fond hope that things would improve. Now, who had free will in this instant? Small companies? They were put in pitiable condition. They lost all the profits earned in a decade
or two. The larger industries? They passed everyday in anxiety over losing
their reputation earned so far, witnessing gradual erosion of their resources,
unable to either close down or continue with work. Did the Sheikh have free will? He was directly affected. He had on option left left other than praying
to Allah. Did the American banks have
free will? They could not do anything
but see and sigh at the demolition of their structure by sudden Tsunami. Everything was gone before they could know
what happened. So long as such a
situation does not develop, we feel we are acting on our own thought and
decision. We appreciate self and regard
ourselves as ‘intelligent’ so long as we attain ‘apparent success’. Once a disastrous situation develops, we hide
behind covers called ‘excuses’.
There is no Free Will. There can not be. Prakriti is a giant machine. So long as we regard ourselves as a part of
that machine, we have to remain trapped in its movement, in its speed. We can not do anything on our free will. That machine will take us as it wishes. Once we get detached from, released from that
machine, then there is only free will.
DOUBT: When
nothing is in our hands, then, is it not futile to be involved in efforts
towards social transformation, National progress, etc.
CLARIFICATION: It is
definite that we will be directed into a work suiting our attitudes. It may not cause progress of the Nation or
betterment of the society. There is no
yardstick to measure these. That which
seems a Victory may be assessed as a failure after a century. That which seems an action towards betterment
may not valued as such by the next generation.
When Russian revolution happened,
many there hailed it as a unique and a historic win and jumped in joy. Within few years, many started wondering ‘why
such revolution?’ Within sixty years,
disdain grew to such a proportion that the whole communist super structure was
demolished and discarded.
The congressmen roared and
claimed to be fighting for National independence. After 1947, they claimed sole credit for
getting independence from the British.
Within sixty years many have started disagreeing. Is the whole country liberated? A portion, now called Pakistan, is enslaved
still to military and Islamic terrorists.
The remaining portion, now called India is under siege by giant MNCs and
can not be said to be independent. Even
the worst ruler, Aurangazeb, a rabid fundamentalist was not successful in
carving an Islamic state in Bharat. That
was achieved by congress claiming to fight for National independence.
The family, society and Nation
are larger than we individuals. We are just
a spark, destined to disappear in a second.
We merely involve in a work suiting our swabhava, without regarding that
‘I am causing progress in society or Nation, why even in family’.
\\\\\ HARIH OM TAT SAT \\\\\
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