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Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada

Destiny

Source: [granthraj]

While reading Srila Prabhupada's book I came across a very nice realization that destiny cannot be changed. But in spite of our destiny, if we try for Krishna consciousness, we can achieve spiritual success. We should not waste our energy for material happiness, because we cannot get more than what we are destined to have. That is why Prahlada Maharaja urged his friends, kaumara aacaret praajno "Take Krishna consciousness up from your very childhood". If destiny cannot be changed, then why was Prahlada Maharaja urging this? Generally, "destiny" means our material future. That we cannot change. But even that can be changed when we are in spiritual life.

For example a man who is condemned by a court of law to be hanged. Nobody can check it. Even the same judge who gave the verdict cannot check it. But if the man begs for the mercy of the king, the king can check the execution. He can go totally above the law. Therefore the Brahma-samhita [5.54] says, karmaani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhaajaam destiny can be changed by Krsna for His devotees; otherwise it is not possible.

Prahlada Maharaja advises his friends [Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.3],

sukham aindriyakam daityaa / deha-yogena dehinaam

sarvatra labhyate daivaad / yathaa duhkham ayatnatah

Prahlada Maharaja continued: "My dear friends born of demoniac families, the happiness perceived with reference to the sense objects by contact with the body can be obtained in any form of life, according to one’s past fruitive activities. Such happiness is automatically obtained without endeavor, just as we obtain distress."

Prahlada Maharaja says we are imagining that there are different types of pleasure on account of different types of body, but the pleasure is fundamentally the same. According to the different types of body, there are some external differences in the pleasure, but the basic amount and quality of this pleasure has very well defined limitations. That is called destiny. A pig has a certain type of body, and his eatable is stool. This is destined. We cannot change it. "Let the pig eat halava." That is not possible. Because the soul has a particular type of body, he must eat a particular type of food. No scientist can improve the standard of living of a pig. It is not possible. Everything about material pleasure is already fixed. The uncivilized men in the jungle are having the same sex pleasure as the so-called civilized men who boast, "Instead of living in that hut made of leaves, we are living in a skyscraper building. This is advancement."

But Vedic civilization says, "No, this is not advancement. Real advancement is self-realization -- how much you have realized your relationship with God."

Srila Prabhupada explains, Materialistic persons have been described as mudhas, asses. Why? The ass works very hard for no tangible gain. He carries on his back tons of cloth for the washerman, and the washerman in return gives him a little morsel of grass. Then the ass stands at the washerman's door, eating the grass, while the washerman loads him up again. The ass has no sense to think, "If I get out of the clutches of this washerman, I can get grass anywhere. Why am I carrying so much?" This is why karmis are called mudhas. They work like asses, without any real aim of life.

Srila Prabhupada further explains that, if we are destined to suffer, in spite of our so-called destiny to suffer, if we take to Krishna consciousness our suffering will be reduced, or there will be no suffering. In spite of any suffering, pure devotees can make progress in spiritual life. Prahlada Maharaj strictly followed the devotional service even when he was put to so many troubles by his father Hiranyakashipu.

That state of existence is called apratihata: if we want to execute Krsna consciousness, our material condition of life cannot check it. That is the real platform of progress. Bhagavat Gita 18.66 Lord Krishna declared "I will deliver you from all the reactions to your sinful activities." This should be clear. Ordinarily, destiny cannot be checked.