Over sometime, I have been grappling with the ins and outs of destiny and free will, really trying to understand. I mean really understand it. But this is the biggest paradox in spiritual science I have found.
The Scriptures talk about both, telling us that on one hand nothing can happen without God’s will and on the other, that everything is in our hands. His Holiness Nirankari Baba would often explain this point stating that ‘God is a Supreme Energy and within this Energy’s will, so to speak, is the freedom of action’. This means that we reap what we sow, but at the same time, the energy behind all our actions is this Supreme Force. So at the end of the day, it is all God!
Specifically, Baba Ji would use the metaphor of an electricity source. He would explain that we can tap into the source to power a fan or air conditioning unit that provides cold air, or plug in a heater that provides warmth. The electricity does not interfere with the choice of what we plug in, but what we choose affects our subsequent experience. That made a lot of sense to me.
Later, I came across an article by one of my spiritual mentors in North America, Rajan Sachdeva. He relayed a story once told by Great Master Baba Avtar Singh Ji. It goes like this…
Once, a hungry, thirsty and ever so tired person in the desert suddenly begins to receive all that he desires, whilst sitting under the mythological tree of life (Kalapa Viriksha). Not knowing where everything comes from, he becomes suspicious and entertains negative thoughts. He feels it could be a ghost. Then fulfilling his desire, the ghost appears! He fears that the ghost might eat him. The ghost does eat him!
Baba Avtar Singh Ji would explain that the supreme formless power is like the tree of life; it is an energy field of Infinite Potentiality, which can give you whatever you desire. The message is to think positively, be positive and say positive things.
This blew me away. If whatever we think or say will come true, from today onwards, let us watch our thoughts and watch what we say, because it will change our lives! As the beautiful ancient Chinese saying tells us;
Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions.
Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits.
Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character.
Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.
Our mental processes and speech connects to actions and habits – essentially, influencing what we experience in the world. The Infinite Formless Energy (the real tree of life) is the giver and source. Let us tap into it with wisdom.
– Dave Dhanoa, Toronto, Canada
