If humans have a predetermined destiny, then where is the Creator’s justice? If the Creator is perfectly just, why are some born rich while others are poor, some intelligent while others are not, and some live long lives while others die young?
This is a common question from those who adhere to materialism. Humans do have a predetermined destiny, but our wealth, social status, intelligence, and lifespan are all consequences of our actions in past lives. If we were kind and virtuous in past lives, we enjoy wealth and prosperity in this life. If we were unkind and wicked, we suffer hardship and adversity as karmic retribution (*1).
Our intelligence or lack thereof is also determined by past experiences:
This world is a school for the soul. Those who have “attended” for many lifetimes and progressed through many “grades” are naturally more intelligent than those who are “newcomers.” If X is more intelligent than Y, it is because X has lived through more lifetimes than Y.
Our lifespan is determined by two factors: our own actions and our predetermined destiny.
Our health and longevity can be affected by neglecting self-care and leading an unhealthy lifestyle. A child born with weak health may be due to their parents’ frail constitution or inadequate care during childhood, leading to a shorter lifespan. Indulging in excessive worldly pleasures can deplete our vital energy and shorten our lives. It’s like a lamp with a limited amount of oil. If we burn it moderately, it will last through the night. However, if we turn the wick up too high, the oil will be quickly consumed, and the lamp will extinguish prematurely.
Some might ask, “Why do some people die young despite taking good care of their health?”
Such individuals may have died prematurely in their past lives due to the reasons mentioned earlier (or due to unforeseen circumstances). Because their previous life was cut short due to their own actions, they are reborn in this life to complete their allotted lifespan, resulting in a shorter life. It’s like a prisoner sentenced to one year who escapes after eight months. They are recaptured and must serve the remaining four months to complete their sentence (and may face additional penalties for escaping).
Is death from unforeseen circumstances also determined by destiny?
Death from unforeseen circumstances means dying at an unexpected time or in an unexpected way. Such deaths might seem unrelated to destiny.
There are two types of unforeseen deaths:
- Suicide (by various means)
- Accidental death (drowning, accidents, violence, etc.)
1/. Those who take their own lives are often driven by despair, seeking to escape unbearable suffering. By doing so, they attempt to evade the challenges and responsibilities of human life. They are like escaped prisoners who cannot endure their sentence. Such individuals not only violate the natural order but also deserve condemnation. However, those who sacrifice themselves for a noble cause (*2) are exempt from this judgment.
2/. Accidental deaths (*3) often result from carelessness, such as falling from a tree or being hit by a vehicle. They can also occur due to venturing into dangerous environments (forests, mountains, or bodies of water), leading to attacks by wild animals or drowning. Additionally, creating enemies or engaging in harmful activities can lead to violent deaths.
If we are cautious when traveling, how can we be hit by a vehicle? If we do not climb a tree, how can we fall from it? Blaming destiny for accidents caused by our own negligence is a mistake. Mencius said, “Those who understand destiny do not stand beneath a crumbling wall.”
If we do not venture into dangerous environments, how can we be harmed by wild animals? Those who engage in risky professions should expect risks; blaming destiny for such outcomes is a mistake. Confucius said, “Those who hunt tigers or cross rivers should not regret their deaths if they perish.”
If we do not create enemies or harm others, how can we be victims of violence? Lao Tzu said, “Misfortune and blessings have no fixed path; they are attracted by our own actions.” Mencius also said, “To die in shackles is not to die according to one’s true destiny.”
In conclusion, we should believe in destiny, but not to the point of fatalism. Blaming everything on fate and neglecting our responsibilities is detrimental. Only when we have exhausted all efforts and still fail to achieve something can we attribute it to destiny. As the saying goes, “Exhaust human effort, then you will know Heaven’s mandate.”
Moreover, the destiny Heaven assigns us is based on our past actions and their karmic consequences. This is the natural law of cause and effect. Heaven does not favor certain individuals with wealth and privilege nor does it condemn others to poverty and hardship. While Heaven determines our initial destiny, we can alter it through our actions. Hence the saying, “Heaven creates destiny, but we shape it.”
How do we shape our destiny?
If we are destined for poverty but consistently cultivate virtue and perform good deeds, we can atone for past transgressions, and Heaven, moved by our compassion, may improve our fate.
Conversely, those destined for wealth and prosperity who engage in greed and cruelty will have their blessings diminished and face misfortune. This law of karmic retribution is inevitable and inescapable. As the saying goes, “Good and evil deeds will eventually bear fruit, the only difference is whether the consequences come sooner or later.” Another saying states, “Those who do good will be rewarded by Heaven with blessings, while those who do evil will face misfortune.”
(*1) While suffering can be a form of punishment, it also serves as a crucible for refining the soul. Through hardship, we gain wisdom and resilience, and our souls become purer and lighter. (Refer to the chapter on austerity). (*2) Examples of sacrificing oneself for a noble cause include dying to protect one’s country or upholding one’s honor. (*3) Only deaths caused by truly unavoidable circumstances, such as being wrongly accused or killed by a falling tree, can be attributed to fate.
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