Life is an aggregate of various journeys undertaken by us in pursuit of our goals. The rising Sun witnesses a new journey everyday, paths being similar or different depending on the intensity of our efforts. Centrality of actions is an inescapable attribute of life. Any happening in the present times owes its existence to the seeds sown in the past.
A question naturally arises that what is the ultimate truth and relative reference of all that effects us. Does our present exists independent of all bearings of the past? Or, is it subject to multitude of permutations and combinations requiring us to undertake a new journey everyday.
The Hindu way of life attaches predominant importance to the Karma (simply translated as actions) of each and every individual. So much so that it postulates shaping of destiny by the humans itself. Such actions result in reactions that are not in our control. It is this uncertainty that makes us susceptible to the concept of fate.
However, it is worth noting that our fate is nothing but the result of our actions. While cursing one’s fate a person must not analyse it in light of recent actions alone. Fate is determined irrespective of the time period in which actions had been performed by us. Hence, it is ever changing. The cause of our misery lies in our attempt to rationalise our fate in light of actions that we vividly remember.
In this process we forget a major chunk of our voluntary, involuntary, conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious actions. Actions, that are not only physical in nature but are intangible in form of various thoughts entertained by us. Therefore, a desire of childhood might create a fate indiscernible by an adult mind.
It is for this reason, that a person seeking the goal of self-realisation must keep on journeying till he breathes his last. A life so lived in an unattached manner might pave a smooth way for the journey beyond that last breath, if it so exists.
Leaving the banks of Sangam marks the start of an inner journey that would ultimately end where it started.
– Prashant
Small City Thinker 