Do you believe in fate/destiny?
The concepts of fate, luck, and destiny often overlap but represent distinct ideas. Destiny suggests inevitability shaped by prior events, as illustrated by the formation of Earth post-solar collision. Historical instances, like Prithviraj Chauhan’s battles, question luck versus destiny. Relying on luck can lead to evasion of responsibility, while success is attributed to hard work and consistency. Emphasising the importance of a proactive attitude, the text critiques superstitions and encourages self-confidence over fatalism, advocating for diligence as the true path to achievement.
Similar but different
Fate, luck and destiny are words that are used interchangeably, conveying similar meaning. They are different; not fully, but to a great measure. Destiny is the strongest word that conveys something that was bound to happen after certain incidences.
Solar system born
The origin of the solar system and the earth was destined. Why and how would be a natural query. Well, it is related to the incidents that happened before the final outcome. Let us see it.
Destiny written
The scientific world has propounded that a huge star collided with the sun. The collision caused fragmentation of the sun. As a result, the Earth was formed along with other planets of the solar system. The collision wrote the destiny of the emergence of the earth. Thus, the earth was destined to come into existence.
Destiny or chance
Another historical incident can clear it further. It is said that Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghori seventeen times. It is an exaggerated fact. Prithviraj defeated him in the First battle of Tarain, and Ghori defeated Prithviraj in the second battle of Tarain. The point is, was Prithviraj defeated Ghori and vice versa by luck? Were their victories destiny? Or was it a chance?
Space for cogitation
Assigning the victory to luck leaves no space for cogitation while terming it destined leads to probing questions about the causes that led to defeat. It gives room to think about the possible weaknesses along with strengths. It is clear by a story of unsuccessful student, who couldn’t clear the board examination.
Unsuccessful blamed luck
A student appeared in the Board examination but did not succeed. Heartbroken, he lamented and assigned his failure to luck and thus consoled himself. He did not think about his weaknesses and impediments, nor did he muse about the means to overcome them. As an escapist, he created an imaginary devil, vilified it and gave a clean chit to himself.
Scapegoat
Luck is a scapegoat. People tend not to see their weak side. They fail to realize that they can also make mistakes. This attitude disheartens them during failure. It becomes hard for them to accept their defeat. To put the onus on other things is an easy thing to shift the responsibility. Luck comes in handy.
careless or careful
The gloomy student who failed in his examination met another one who did not pass the examination either but was not so desperate. The former one thought about him as shameless. Apparently, he looked careless but was he really a careless guy who didn’t bother about his failure? Let us see it.
Failure shows the way
He was not desperate for several reasons. His parents were considerate, and their approach was practical. They treated him gently and advised him not to curse his fate; instead, he should focus on the point of his failure and remove it. The boy did the same and, with the help of his parents, found his weaknesses and started working on them.
Assigning failure to luck
Failure and success are not the outcome of luck. True success is the outcome of diligent hard work and persistent efforts. It occasionally happens that a student has prepared selected questions, and he was asked the same questions in his examination. The student would be capable of answering all questions properly and get good marks. Contrarily, another student couldn’t do well because what he prepared was not asked. It is a chance. Tagging it luck would not be proper. What is the way out?
Diligent hard work
The only way out is unquestionably hard work. A student who studies regularly or a person who persistently does good work need not worry about the result, nor do they depend upon guesswork. A thorough study of the whole course is beneficial in more than one way. It clears the fundamentals of the topic and gives depth. A student will not face difficulties in answering tricky questions as well.
Chance is not luck
Why a chance shouldn’t be termed as luck is not difficult to comprehend. A soldier in the war is expected to be prepared for every possible exigency. He can’t take a chance. He knows that even a slight wrong move can jeopardise his effort. He is prepared, not considering luck, but based on his experiences and the guidance of his superiors. He fights wholeheartedly with a purpose. He wins not because of luck but because of his grit and effort.
Perchance allows introspection
Sometimes, despite the best efforts, results are not as expected. It is perchance that results were not as expected. It, nevertheless, does not undermine the essence of meticulous hard work. It allows one to get up, collect, prepare and start working. There is no other choice but to do duty.
The struggle
Great athlete Milkha Singh sobriquet Flying Sikh, did not deter, nor did he put an onus on luck and sat down. He continued his efforts, fought bravely against the odds and made his mark.
“Karma”: Lord’s command
Lord Krishna, in His epic Gita, told Arjuna to do his duty, for it was the only thing that was in his control. He laid great emphasis on the right duty in the right direction, without expecting or thinking about the result. The result is the outcome of the work and the quality. Karma is bound to express itself through the result. It is instantaneous. It is the deed which is done by the doer. The outcome is the sum of labour, diligence, and consistency. Luck has no role to play. It is a word coined to hedge personal incompetence.
Is soothsaying logical?
A newborn baby doesn’t know about the auspicious time to be born. Soon after the baby arrives, rights and rituals start. An almanack is prepared, and a name is given to the baby, observing the favourable planetary situation and everything that is supposed to be good and auspicious.
Customs and traditions
Observing traditions and customs is absolutely fine, but the thing that needs to be closely followed is their relevance and utility. Rituals and practices are good because of their deep-rooted traditions, which have nourished a race for a long time. As old and worn-out clothes need to be discarded, old and worn-out ideas and rituals need to be replaced by newer and more practical ideas that best suit the current situation.
Superstitions vs logical thoughts
Many superstitious practices are in vogue. The practitioners claiming to change the fate, suggest many conjuring remedies. Inserting an extra alphabet or two in one’s name, some numerals or changing directions are but a few of them. These are the tip of the iceberg. The real problem is exploiting people’s gullible nature and fear of losing or greed for gaining more. Occult practices, blindfolded believeing an irrational propaganda by fake godmen or so-called astrologers give nothing except mental slavery. It should be taken seriously. Attitudinal change supported by logic, reasoning and application of prudence is important. The attitude creates a perception, which later becomes psyche. Many old wives’ tales have become obsolete and out of currency. There was a time when sneezing had a meaning; crossing the path of a cat was viewed with disdain. With the distinct changes in society, nonetheless, superstitions have become a thing of the distant past.
Faith and self-confidence
Faith is pure. It is like a dew dorop resting on the petal of a flower during a cool morning and add to its pious beauty. Faith and efforts analgamated with self-confidence gives strength and do wonders. Nonetheless, self-confidence is a positive trait, it strengthen the courage and power of a person. Contrary to it, a haughty individual is arrogant and self-centred. Self-respect and self-assurance which give power are the offshoot of self-confidence. A shaky individual harms self and people around. There is a clear distinction between a mendacious highbrow and a self-confident one. It is the former who nourishes the concept of luck or fate. A person with self-esteem believes in effort and hard work.
Largest religious fair
The Kumbh fair (Kumbh Mela) at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, India, is a burning example of grit, hard work, collective efforts, and honest implementation. The jamboree, lasted for forty-two days, was a massive spiritual extravaganza where more than 62 crore people, irrespective of caste and creed, crossing the national boundaries, took a dip in the confluence of the holy Ganga, Yamuna, and invisible Saraswati. The management of the grand occurrence was on its toes and left no stone unturned to make it a grand success. It is their commitment, missionary zeal, and dedication that culminated in such a gargantuan event of cultural, religious, and spiritual importance.
It was not luck nor was it fate. It was their dedicated hard work that paid off. The government and all those who contributed deserve kudos. Eulogies to them all.
A big NO to superstitions
Numerology, Tarot card reading, astrology and other such branches which deal with prognostication don’t cure the ailment. These are purely fiction and fancy. Even God had to follow the suit which was ordained. No one can challange the will of the Almighty. The fake godmen and soothsayers are like sedatives. They affect the weak mentality and try to relieve by suppressing the feelings. It is why Goswami Tulasi Das wrote that the ordained is bound to happen. Sophistry is fake show that harms, not gives a cure.
A fatalist is like a pessimist who leaves everything to fate and does nothing which can’t be considered good. It is regressive and needs to be warded off.
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