Destiny-Are we destined (2)

Sri. K.V.Kunhikrishnan: In the initial discussion on the subject Dr. Sadanandan had posed the question whether a mutation is possible in which human beings will be free of the chain of cause and effect, which actually results in the destiny. Defining the words relating to ‘Destiny’, he started with the genome restrictions on the destiny of man/living beings. He proceeded to show that in this vast universe where Man seems to be an insignificant entity, we are in a process of cause and effect phenomenon. Is an escape from this possible by a mutation, was the question. Dr. Babu Ravindran pointed out that the same cause and effect phenomenon is contained in the concept of the continuity of birth and death in the rebirth philosophy of ‘Karma Yoga’ in the Hindu tradition. In the elaboration of that tradition the principle of right effort/work as sacrifice without bothering about the results is a key for liberation from the phenomenon of cause and effect resulting in the chain of births and deaths. Dr. Thomas dwelt on the other meaning of the word destiny as the ultimate destination or future towards which man is moving, and explaining the various aspects suggested that a good future of man can be assured only by ‘psyching’ up the growth of children with right motivation, intelligence and health.
With these ideas in the mind I am inclined to think that may be, will or volition is a myth or illusion, and destiny is preordained. ‘The best of men cannot suspend their fate’, said Daniel Defoe. Or is it to be reworded to say that the best of men cannot suspend a coincidence? If Man is not fated, then every incidence should be a coincidence or accident. If everything that happens is the resultant of a series of causes, the future should be predictable when all the causes and circumstances are known. The ignorance of all causes does not make it any less predictable.

Destiny, Fate, and Will or Volition, are closely interconnected. While destiny and fate are used as synonyms, fate has an element of foregone past in it, whereas destiny seems to have hope in the future. Will has to play and act within the limitations imposed by fate and destiny.
Prof. Sankarankutty: Unlike ‘destiny’, ‘fate’ has negation in its meaning. It is used in a negative sense. For example, Napolean was a man of destiny; you don’t say he was fated. But the famous musician, Maharajapuram Santhanam died suddenly in the prime of his life, and he was said to be fated to die early. Similarly the American singer Elvis Presley also died early in his forties.
Dr. Babu Ravindran: Man’s mind is programmed to act in a given situation. To that extend he is bound by destiny.
Sri.Kunhikrishnan: A dog is bound and restricted to move and act as a dog, not as a cat or rat. Its will and freedom is restricted to the behavior of not only a dog but also the particular dog. Is it not destined or fated to behave in a predetermined manner decided by its genetic structure and its particular environment? It has definitely freedom of movement within the restrictions of its body and surroundings. A train has freedom of movement within the beaten railway track. The driver may have freedom of movement from here to Kashmir, but only on the beaten track. Can we call restriction that a dog thus experiences as its destiny?
Suppose in an accident the dog is killed by a passing motor vehicle. Was it fated to so die? Was it its destiny? Genetics cannot explain that. A man driving his scooter along the highway was hit by a falling coconut tree right on his head and he collapsed dead. His DNA can hardly be responsible for his scooter reaching the particular spot so as to receive the tree on his head at the exact moment. The consolation of an explanation for such a tragedy can be found only in his fate or destiny unless on a future date somebody proves that the victim’s brain could be so programmed as to reach the particular spot at the moment of the fall of the tree. And thus, probably a whole system of fate, destiny, predictions, and occult remedies started, all because of man’s confusion and ignorance about the unknown. Samuel Johnson said that our will is free and there is an end on it. The free will was going along on the scooter with a clear purpose and target. And the end came from elsewhere.
An English poet of the last century wrote,
‘Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate
Still achieving still pursuing
Learn to labour and to wait” (HW. Longfellow)
This is nothing but condensed ‘Karma Yoga’ of Lord Krishna! I think that somewhere he might have come across a text on ‘Karmayoga’. Why should one ‘labor and wait’ if one is destined?’ the question arises. But even if fated, one does not know all the facts leading to the end-result. One does not also know whether one is destined to work and win, win without working, or to lose. Moreover, ‘Where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise’ Therefore it is better to work and wait for the result whatever that might be.
As regards predictions, as said above one is incapable of knowing all the minute circumstances to predict a result of an action. But one can always roughly predict where a stone will fall on throwing it. But the final point where it reaches depends upon several factors. Even a passing bird may hit it. Outcome of an action depend on several factors. If all factors are known to a superior intelligence, such an intelligence may be able to predict the exact point of the fall of the stone. By extending this idea of cause and effect we can reach to a conclusion that everything that is happening in this universe is predetermined and predictable provided one has a superior intelligence to know all facts and circumstances. As no man has such an intelligence, and he, in his confusion, is fated to act only to the best of his ability according to the will or volition conferred on him, surrendering or leaving the power of granting results, to his fate. Man is thus doomed to imperfect action. The outcome also is, therefore, destined to be distorted to the extent of that imperfection. He can only succumb to his destiny – ‘ the immanent will that stirs and urges everything’.- Thomas Hardy.
Dr. Sadanandan: Confined by thought, it is the mind that restricts man’s freedom. Once the mind is free of thought, there cannot be the imperfection in action and the distortion.
Prof. Sankarankutty: The limitation is there, and the freedom is there. Both are there. Man can become a superman by being free of the limitation.
Dr. Sadanandan: That freedom is Divine Love. The action of a person with a lot of love will be entirely different from that of others.
Prof. Sankarankutty: It is said that the mother’s love is the greatest and the most pure. Is it a mutation? Real mutation should be at the psychological level or the psychic level, and not at the material level. This psychic level mutation can then make changes not only at the mental level but also at the material level even in the DNA. The processes are by movements in two directions, up and down. The soul or man’s will moves upwards to the divine, say by ‘Chittavritti Nirodha’ meaning a silent mind, and the divine grace comes down to meet it. This is called by Sri Arobindo as Supramental Manifestation. Allow me to explain this in detail in my talk in the next discussion.
Stray comment by a member: Science is in the process of creating a superman.
Prof. Hay: Man is born, and his growth and development are all programmed. But he has the freedom to shape his own destiny. He creates a future for himself. Let us take India and America for example. With all the knowledge available the American pursues relentlessly with vigor to create new things and to prosper. We only copy lacking creative action. Nothing is pre-ordained. Even in the story of Srirama you can see that he had to live life in the jungle because he chose it. It was Rama’s destiny which he himself created and shaped. It was not pre-ordained. I would talk on this in detail later.
Dr. Thomas: In the west they encourage creativity and enterprise, and that makes a lot of difference.
Dr. Sankarankutty: Stephen Hawkins cannot live the life of an ordinary human being because of his handicaps. Yet he became great by his creative abilities and effort. Did he create his own destiny or was he destined to become great because of his inborn abilities?
Indian fatalism is actually a corruption of the original Indian thinking on fate. The fatalistic superstition was not there in the Vedas. Original thinking on destiny and fate did not make man lethargic by promoting inaction or by belief in superstitions. But later on even in the texts of scriptures superstitions crept in. the present day texts are not one man’s creation. Nor are they original. So many people have contributed, tampering with the originals.
There cannot be fatalism where there is continuity in the cause and effect chain. For right action there is right result. There is a hidden continuity in it. The Karma theory has an ultra part and an infra part.

Note: The discussion went on for some more time. No particular point is noticed for recording except that it was pointed out that in the Vedic stories even the gods and goddesses are seen to be not free from the cause/effect chain. For example, to expiate a curse, even Godess Mahalaxmi had to take birth on the earth as Tulsi, the basil plant.