destiny and free will

[Guest guest]

Recently there was a query re destiny and free will. This is discussed in

the purport to SB 11.3.6, as quote below.

 

The argument may be given that if a living entity were subject to the

results of his previous activities there would be no scope for free will;

once having committed a sinful action, the living entity would be bound in

an endless chain of suffering, being perpetually subject to previous

reactions. According to this speculation there cannot be a just and

omniscient God, since the living entity is forced to commit sinful

activities by the reactions of his previous activities, which were reactions

to still previous activities. Since even an ordinary gentleman will not

unfairly punish an innocent person, how could there be a God witnessing the

helpless suffering of the conditioned souls within this world?

 

This foolish argument can easily be refuted by a practical example. If I

purchase a ticket for an airline flight, board the plane and commence the

flight, once the plane has taken off my decision to board the plane forces

me to continue flying until the plane lands. But although I am forced to

accept the reaction of this decision, on board the plane I have many new

decisions I can make. I may accept the food and drink from the stewardesses

or reject it, I may read a magazine or newspaper, I may sleep, walk up and

down the aisle, converse with other passengers and so on. In other words,

although the general context-flying to a particular city-is forcibly imposed

upon me as a reaction to my previous decision to board the plane, even

within that situation I am constantly making new decisions and creating new

reactions. For example, if I cause a disturbance on the airplane I may be

arrested when the plane lands. On the other hand, if I make friends with a

businessman sitting next to me on the plane, such a contact may lead to a

favorable business transaction in the future.

 

Similarly, although the living entity is forced to accept a particular body

by the laws of karma, within the human form of life there is always scope

for free will and decision-making. Therefore the Supreme Personality of

Godhead cannot be considered unjust for holding the living entity in human

life responsible for his present activities despite the living entity's

undergoing the reactions of his previous work.