Words of Wisdom

Even if the law of Karma is inexorable, there is the scope for divine grace. Grace comes through penitence, austerity & devotion. Penitence does not alter the law of Karma. It is an act, that has it fruit like any other act.

 What one has to reap cannot be altered by the individual; but its recurrence can certainly be checked by self-effort.

 Self-effort is Purushartha. Destiny is Prarabdha. The self-effort of today becomes the destiny of tomorrow. Self-effort and destiny are one and the same. They are two names that indicate only one thing. Just as the present becomes the past and the future becomes the present. Just as there is only the present, so also there is only Purushartha. When God works through YOU, it is Purushartha. Grace becomes Purushartha.

 Prarabdha concerns the past only. The future is in your hands. You can change your destiny. You have a free will to act.

 Have a new angle of vision. Arm yourself with discrimination, cheerfulness, discernment, alacrity and undaunted spirit. A glorious, brilliant future is awaiting you! Let the past be buried. You can work miracles. You can do wonders. Do not give up hope. You can destroy the harmful effects of unfavorable planets (people, circumstances, etc) through your will-force. You can change the unfavorable circumstances into best possible ones. You can nullify destiny!

 Destiny is your own creation. You have created your destiny through thoughts and actions. You can undo the same by right thinking and right action. Even if there is an evil, or dark antagonistic force attacking you, you can diminish its force by resolutely turning your mind away from it. Thus you can disarm destiny.

 Do not say: "Karma, Karma. My Karma has brought this on me, what can I do?".

 Exert! Exert! Do Purushartha. Do Tapas (austerity). Concentrate. Purify. Meditate. Pray. Do not become a fatalist. Do not yield to inertia. Do not bleat like a lamb.

 Roar Om, Om, Om, like a lion of Vedanta!

Look at all the courageous souls throughout history who have overcome insurmountable odds to achieve great things: Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks. What others have done, you can also do. There is no doubt.

Swami Sivananda

Bliss Divine

1963