Can your free will change your destiny?

July 18, 2003

Your insightful discussion on free will and destiny leads me to submit this rather long-winded question. How can I stop getting fired from jobs.

Here is background information. My career is now on a rollercoaster. One minute I have a new teaching job, then in 1-3 years I'm out the door. My contract has not been extended at the past four or five jobs I've held. I quit the part-time teaching job I had before accepting this full-time teaching job I've just lost. So I either quit or I'm fired in one to three years, at each job.

This is my question. Although I rarely if ever discuss my religious beliefs at work (but try to simply live them out), how can I live out my spiritual beliefs professionally and privately and not offend people? (Because that clearly seems to be what I am doing).

I'm beginning to suspect that trying to live out my religious beliefs (avoiding gossip, slander, office sex, etc.) is the issue.

My most recent boss was a lesbian, the first one I'd ever knowingly encountered. For the record she wore to work each day:A man's suit, neck tie, and men's shoes. And yes, she was dressed that way when I interviewed for and later accepted the job. My other bosses have either been male homosexuals, or skirt chasers. These are facts I am not inventing. I have felt threatened in each one's presence. In restrospect, I realize I have used my free will to slowly have limited contact with each boss, who has first become annoyed, then hostile.

Eventually, I've been told by each boss that my contract for the next academic year will not be extended due to (A) budge cuts (B) Or no reason is given. However, at this last job with the lesbian boss we eventually got into a screaming, yelling fight. I just saw where things were headed the day she again (notice I said again) loudly and angrily approached me, screaming through my office door about another small matter she clearly did not approach me to truly discuss. She had grown accustomed to approaching me to heap her wrath upon and to publicly humiliate. You'll just have to take my word for it since there's not enough space to describe the escalating harassment I endured under her leadership.

As a single woman, my religious beliefs require me to refrain from sexual immorality. On the other hand, her beliefs require her to dress, talk, and act like a man. Stated simply, I believe we both had free will. And our wills/beliefs collided. The lesbian boss, not only harassed me after I'd constantly declined any social offers she extended several times; but she also subtly encouraged other employees to harass me. There were loud conversations held daily outside my office door about gay rights, or religious freaks. I'd either get up, lock my office door and leave, or pretend to ignore such talk. This was all day, everyday for one year and a half.

I admit I slowly isolated myself at my most recent job, and at the other jobs. In my mind, I felt like too many of the conversations were surreptitious attempts to convert me to adopting homosexual beliefs, or to promiscuity, no matter how seemingly innocent the topic at hand.

And with the male homosexual bosses or the skirt chasers, I slowly isolated myself too. My comfort level would drop during any verbal exchange. I'd make excuses and leave as soon as I could.

Neither my work nor work habits have ever been cited as a reason for my contract not being renewed at each school. However, my former bosses have explained my dismissal by implying that I was too much the taskmaster with my students, who I was TOLD complained in large numbers about me. The problem of course is that when I asked for any type of proof about the large numbers of students supposedly complaining I have never been supplied it. Never.

Now I have three (3) promising potential employers sorting through my application materials and conducting background checks. Several friends who have been listed as personal references have phoned to tell me they've been contacted by my new potential employers. Good.

Now to my simple Question--I do not know what types of beliefs/lifestyles I will encounter at my next job. I would like to keep the next job I get. And I'm sure my free will controls my racing thoughts, sweaty palms, and the quick wall I've erected at previous jobs.

How can I use my free will differently at my next job? How can I create a different destiny for myself?

Thank you. I welcome any and all responses. Have a great day.

July 24, 2003

Wow-it sounds like you are encountering so many difficulties! Would you be able to be a teacher at a Hare Krsna school? Perhaps it is your destiny to be a teacher at a Hare Krsna school? Perhaps Krsna is making it so overly hellish for you wherever you go because he wants you to work at a Hare Krsna school instead?

May 5, 2005

you are talking nonsense..you do not answer quetion you just talk aout your ego...just nonsense

May 8, 2005

HareKrishna! Wow Inspiration222! How have you survived. Indeed you have been very brave. I know exactly what you mean. I mean I also face this at work though to a smaller degree. I think you should not totally isolate yourself. I mean you could always end up with smaller conversations around yourself. You could talk to your colleagues and win their support by engaging your conversation a little bit in what they are interested in. I mean, we all have to do it from time to time. Krsna understands, I am sure and only He is the protector. Do u know the famous quote, "Maare Krsna, Raakhe Ke, Raakhe Krshna, Maare Ke" - if Krishna wants to kill someone, who can protect him and if Krishna wants to save someone, who can kill him? So, do not worry, because if some one takes to Krishna conciousness and becomes a devotee, Krsna definitely takes care of the 3 necessities - food, clothing and shelter, unless of course if one is destined to die because of one of these. But, I think, most people are not. So, we shall take it that Krishna will certainly give you protection and take care of you. Besides, this is Kali yuga, you can't get on, I suppose without a little bit of gossip. I am sure Krshna understands our precarious position. That is why Srila Prabhupada would say that nobody is free from sin. No one can say that, especially in this Kali yuga. I am not saying that you should indulge in promiscuity or homosexuality or become a lesbian or anything like that. Pray to Krishna. Could you not tutor kids at home? Just a suggestion. Try to be a friend to your colleagues, feed them Krishna prasadam without letting them know. Any other suggestions/comments from anyone else most welcome. Please excuse me for any offences I may have committed. HK! AGTSP!PAMHO!