Fate or Free Will - The Hindu Article - All are subject to the will of God!

April 28, 2003

Date:28/04/2003 URL:

Miscellaneous - Religion

All are subject to will of God

CHENNAI APRIL 28 . The need for survival arises naturally in the case

of all living beings; even the lowliest creatures instinctively know

how to hunt for their food. Man, with his superior intelligence, and

who is endowed with the rare faculty of discrimination to distinguish

between the right and the wrong, however, feels frustrated when

confronted with problems in his daily life.

He fails to realise that everything revolving around him is God's

handiwork. Devotion and spiritual knowledge will make one understand

that the Supreme Being guides him in times of distress and when he

has taken refuge in Him.

In the midst of worldly activities, it is no doubt, difficult to

maintain equanimity. How can he abandon these worldly distinctions?

To whom should he turn to seek proper guidance?

Scriptural history is replete with examples of illustrious spiritual

leaders offering solace to such ardent aspirants who want to get rid

of earthly shackles. These spiritual mentors will surely impart them

the knowledge required to escape the material influence.

The Bhagavatham illustrates through Uddhava, Lord Krishna's intimate

associate, who was asked to stay in the world so as to further

propagate the divine message, how Nature and all creations of God

can, if their roles are observed properly, impart very useful lessons

for man, following which he can have a safe voyage through life.

In his discourse, Sri P.M. Vijayaraghava Sastrigal referred to the 24

different types of teachers, which as a mendicant mentioned, made him

develop his conduct free from attachments.

The earth (symbolising patience), the elements of Nature, the python

(which never goes in search of prey, but will not let anything escape

if it comes in its way), the hard working bees, the community

camaraderie shown by doves, the wasp, the elephant, the antelope and

the spider are some among them.

>From the way they lived, the ascetic added, he taught himself.

Knowing that all are subject to the will of Providence, a person

should stick to the right path, even in the wake of challenges. This

is the rule of life, as Uddhava Gita points out.

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