Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).
This principle focuses on what it means when we make a "choice" or "decision." Do we have freedom, and if so, what kind is it?
I believe that we do have "freedom," but it is a special kind. In a very subtle paradox, our "freedom" comes from the reality that on a deeper level we and everything else are completely determined.
Imagine for a moment that everything in this universe is determined, down to the last detail. The main reason for this is that in order for the universe to not be determined there would have to be "random" events now and then.
My problem is that I can't imagine how a truly random event could occur. It seems to me that what we call "random" is simply a way of saying that we don't yet understand the process involved at a deep level.
In that sense, it may be that calling some event or process "random" is just a confession of ignorance. (It's worth mentioning here that Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle in physics is about measuring reality, not reality itself.)
..there's in man likewise a fate that lends power to his life. And if he succeeds in assigning the right place to life and to fate, thus bringing the two into harmony, he puts his fate on a firm footing. Wilhelm 50
I'm just thinking loud, I think that the principle called "Karma" is strongly related to the whole subject of Destiny. There're three kinds of Karma:
Pralabd is a Karma which we need to meet in this life. The Astrological Chart is a symbolical drawing of that Karma.
Kriyaman is the Karma we create in this life.
Sinchit is the baggage of Karma that we create with many lives.
Ile
it doesn't?
if choices are a matter of the tiniest inclinations then every thought we entertain and assign meaning too makes a difference, no?
I find fascinating the story about kids recognizing their 'previous' families in the face of older family members (this is what you said, right?) and I too believe we don't come into the world empty slates . . gene memory is one thing that encourages me to think so . . even the act of being in the womb or being given birth already creates a big signature on our lives before we come to the world as separate living entities.
Once I asked a psychiatrist friend about whether they have any ideas about the primal material of a person's character, the one that pre-exists and makes people growing up together react differently to the same influences or events and he said that's the next big mystery they're trying to unravel . . for me astrology fills in the blank sometimes.
I'm a big supporter of the idea that our BIG decisions are basically made as a result of everything that we are, were and will be but I do think we have a choice. In the most everyday, mundane level we have all kinds of choices and that is where we can most exercise our right on freedom . . in a funny way that often means setting boundaries or holding back from being reduced to a reaction . . that's also where I find mindfulness to be most helpful
. . does that mean one then follows one's destiny? could be . . but then it becomes a co-created destiny, which I find hugely different from the idea of pre-determination . .
It seems universe has a very small inclination to one side. A tiny preference for matter over antimatter, which made matter happen and not antimatter. I think this lopsided thingy is in everything. When you cast the coins, they fall to one side due to some tiny influence. So small that the mind itself can influence it on a very deep level, hidden deep in the subconscious. In the dark depths where mind and universe flow together.
In this same way I think fate and destiny work. You think you decide in a 'free' way, but your subconscious makes your decisions and choices incline in a direction. Without noticing you follow the road of your tao. Not especially a tao given to you by heaven, rather the one you contracted through your upbringing, good and bad encounters, way of living and so on. "Your" tao. Which means your destiny.
So I think you do make your own destiny in some ways, but much more of it is made by your life itself. A very big part of that is beyond your power, over many things you have no control.
People who are continuously told as a child that they are dummies will incline in their decisions towards making dumb ones. Things go wrong, as if they are destined to fail. Parents can make or break destinies, but very often they themselves have been 'made' that way as well. It is so hard to break through that vicious cycle that it looks like everything has been predestined by a higher power.
I refuse to believe that a child carries karma with it from previous lives, that goes against my grain.
actually its all dependent on whether you believe in having previous lives. If you do you then it follows we don't come here as blank slates. That we aleady are destined to experience certain situations that we need to for our souls growth.
Well as the OP, I didn't really intend for this thread to be about reincarnation.
I just want to know if you think everything is predesined or not and why you think so. Real life examples are welcomed.
Trojan,
It is not a matter of believe, it is a matter of what you have experienced as true in your life.
I know from my own experience and dealing with my past life memories (which actually brings me knowledge to face and handle to major issues in my life) that facing the past life memories store in our subconscious minds is very valuable and needing knowledge in maturing and spiritual growing of one person. We become more aware and in control of our lives. We find a purpose. One can deal with past life memories without knowing that that "memories" are from past life actually. He would think that they are merely fantasies maybe. But for me, that is more poor knowledge than to go back and see actually what was your purpose in previous lives and what is your purpose in this life. Where have you been, where are you know and where are you going. Astrology is one of the most valuable resource to understand all these stuffs. Other hermetical disciplines are also valuable.
I think that the discussion of "Are you believe in Karma and Reincarnation" must be the first, and discussion of Destiny should follow after one is clear with his self what is his viewpoint on this.
Believing is different from actually knowing something. There're many people who believe in different kind of Dogmas and they actually never experienced them or live them. For example, I heard many people say: "Well, I believe that there's some God in Heaven". After some time they say the opposite: "I don't know, I'm in doubts of existing of God, I believe that there's no such thing as God". But the one who Knows, who has experienced this greater power in the Universe he knows for sure that there's such thing more powerful than we humans are. The one who experienced the opposite may say: "I'm sure that there's no such thing as greater power. Everything is the way as we look, there's no hidden things of which we humans don't know and don't see. I know that from experience." But to Believe is on lower level of to actually Know. To Know and to Believe are two different things. To Know is more stronger. Beliefs are shaking.what you believe often comes from what you have experienced as true in your life
I never quite buy the idea of a specific purpose in each life or that it can be known. In the end the only purpose of being is....being. Everything serves that.
As far as purpose in life...
Their is one purpose for all of us and it is depicted in the story of the prodigal son, and in the overall view of the I Ching, a form of the prodigal son story. That purpose is to return to the father. We are all one with the father and our material bodies are only an illusion created by consciousness, when we realize this, end the dream, come to realize our true source, we "return to the Father." All incarnations are a situation in which the prodigal son leaves the father to "go out into the world." In doing so one actually forgets who he or she is. The trick is to remember who we are. This is our purpose, and the ultimate destiny of all of us, whether we presently want that or not.
Gene
Actually both concept are true. The universe is mulitdimensional in nature, therefore a person can be reincarnated in any universe at any time and at any time period. The script is chosen before birth, and the script is intended to teach us lessons we could not learn otherwise. However, the script is not absolute fate. It is a form of destiny, and is likely to be followed throughout life, but it does not have to be. If one awakens before the so called destined time, the script can be changed. By continual use of affirmations that affect the subconscious mind, the script can be changed. But one must be aware first that there is a script to be changed.
If one is still largely an unconscious "pin-ball" having not established a connection to the real Self or soul (which requires an accumulation and recalibtration of the personality and it's energy) and which may then consciously survive death instead of being drawn back instantly into the incarnational chaos; where there is some modicum of integration and true free-will and not simply a biological machine that reacts.... then the concept of Karma can be known after there is a foundation by which a spiritual "credit" and "debit" can be accounted for and applied.
But then it's all pretty sounding theory that resonates or not...I can't claim to know...Only that it could be true.....
Clarity,
Office 17622,
PO Box 6945,
London.
W1A 6US
United Kingdom
Phone/ Voicemail:
+44 (0)20 3287 3053 (UK)
+1 (561) 459-4758 (US).