Blessed are the thorns for within them flowers bloom. I read an amazing story in today's newspaper about a poor and ailing village girl who had leukemia and she came first in the nationwide board exam with. Her will, focused mind and her love of life found expression in ways that her life might not allow for long. This is the triumph of will.
Such unusual events prove that destiny, fate or circumstance, and whatever their causes might be, can be overcome by a strong will. While the accumulations of past lives might manifest in present life even as one lifetime doesn't hold explanations of any apparent reasons, we label them as destiny or fate. They may be pleasant or unpleasant in nature, but we do not have much control over them.Sri Ramakrishna compared the limitations of human free to with a cow tied to a stake in a field. It has room to roam free up to the length of the rope it's tied with. We cannot deny fate, but total acceptance also may pull down our self esteem, efforts and will power to shape our own life. It is true that hereditary factors, environment, tendencies of past life, all help to shape our lives in different patterns but it is also not a wise choice to surrender our will power at the alter of Fate.
Paramhansa Yogananda, who helped uplift human spirit through his writings, lectures and by establishing S.R.F. (Self realisation Fellowship in U.S in 1920, H.Q in L.A) all over the world, brought rays of hope. He said, "past life tendencies can be cauterised from the brain with the fire of wisdom. And the best anaesthesia against pain is to develop our mental power by being engaged in helpful, creative activities and specially by practicing “Kriya Yoga meditation" (from The divine Romance). The first reference to Kriya Yoga is found in Indian epic Mahabharata, when Krishna taught it to depressed Arjuna to overcome fear and inspired him to perform his duty as a warrior battling his own family to establish righteousness. That light of wisdom was carried over by lineage of five masters, the last guru Yogananda opened the light of wisdom fountain for all coming generations through his teachings. I feel blessed to have it , and it has helped me to overcome many hurdles in life. I conclude with a few lines of an unknown poet,” Pain makes you stronger. Fear makes you braver. Heart break makes you wiser. So thank the past for a better future.“
Dear Mrs Manjula Bose,
ReplyDeleteGood morning.
Thank you for sharing such a profound and beautifully written reflection. Your perspective on the delicate balance between will and destiny is both inspiring and deeply human. You’ve captured the inner strength of the human spirit with compassion and clarity, especially through the story of the girl who triumphed against all odds—a powerful reminder of what focused will can achieve, even amidst suffering.
Your ability to weave spiritual wisdom from Sri Ramakrishna and Paramhansa Yogananda into real-life relevance is truly uplifting. The imagery of the cow tied to a stake was especially striking—an honest portrayal of our limitations, yet also a call to use our free will meaningfully within that space. Your words encourage courage, responsibility, and self-awareness, without denying the role of fate.
The closing quote, too, wraps it all up perfectly. Thank you for your unique voice and insight—it is both enlightening and encouraging. Your writing is not just a view, but a gift.
It's absolutely coming from your heart, knowledge and experience. As a mother instills values in her children to enable them to cope with the world, your excellent writing ( sayings) enriching all of us. Pronam.
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