Fixed Happiness and Distress - That Is Called Destiny
In the material world, every living entity is constantly striving to improve their economic and social conditions, hoping to increase their happiness and minimize their distress. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this endeavor is largely a waste of time. According to the strict laws of material nature, the exact amount of enjoyment and suffering one will experience is already fixed by their past actions, a concept known as destiny.
The Fixed Quota of Karma
The moment a soul enters a specific material body, its basic experiences are locked in. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the standard of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, along with all the accompanying happiness and distress, is already settled by one's past karma. No amount of mundane effort can increase this predetermined quota.
- According to your karma, you have been fixed up that, "You shall eat like this, you shall sleep like this, you'll have sex life like this, and you will be able to defend like this, not more than that." That is not possible. That is called destiny.
- How much foolish we are that we are getting a particular type of body, and the sukha-duhkha, happiness and distress, is already fixed up. That is called destiny. As soon as I get a particular type of body, my happiness and sufferings are all destined.
- The body is made according to our past karma, and that is called destiny. Your happiness and distress according to the body is already settled up. It is not possible by natural way to improve or disimprove it.
- Naturally, 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.
The Universality of Destiny
The laws of karma are universally applied without exception. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that from the most insignificant microscopic insect up to the highly elevated demigod Indra, everyone is bound by the results of their previous activities. Everything in the material world runs systematically under these strict, unchangeable laws.
- Beginning from this insect known as indra and up to that Indra, everyone is bound up by his karma-phala. That is called destiny. Everyone is bound up.
- Everything is going on systematically. That is called destiny. Destiny means that so long we are under the laws of nature, that is to happen. You cannot change it. That is not possible. Such law can be changed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- When it is high fever and quite manifest, the delusion and so many other things, that is called prarabdha. So we are all undergoing prarabdha-phalam, manifest phala, for our past deeds. So they are very deep rooted. It is very difficult to uproot them.
- We practically see that one man is ordered to be hanged by the justice, he has to be hanged. That is destiny. One has not seen who has ordered, but he sees that, "This man is being hanged." He cannot explain; he says: By chance.
The Futility of Material Endeavor
Despite witnessing the rigid nature of destiny, people constantly struggle to become wealthy or famous. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that this frantic endeavor is fruitless. Even if one temporarily acquires more money or a better position, circumstances will inevitably force them back to the exact condition destined by their past actions.
- That (destiny, which is already settled up) you cannot change. Otherwise, everyone is trying to become very rich, very important. There is no scarcity of endeavor. But not that everyone is becoming like that. That is called destiny.
- Even if you get more money, the other circumstances will force you to remain in the same condition as you were fifty years ago. Because you are destined. This is called destiny. You cannot change your destiny. That is not possible.
- Wherever you go, your this fate will go with you. If you are meant for getting ten thousand, you'll never get ten thousand, one hundred. This is called destiny.
- If one is suffering, that is his own fault. Just like in the hospital you'll go, you'll find so many patients are starving. Does it mean the patients are starving for want of food? No. He must starve; otherwise he will not be cured. That is destiny.
The Architecture of Free Will
While the present is fixed by the past, the living entity still possesses free will to shape their future. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that instead of wasting time trying to alter unchangeable material destiny, one should use their free choice to act in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. This is the only real protection and the true duty of human life.
- Free choice makes destiny - if I act in goodness, then my future is good. And if I act badly, my future is bad. That is destiny. "Man is the architect of his own destiny."
- If you become yourself Krsna conscious, and if you try to make your son Krsna conscious, that you can do. And that is the duty, real duty. Other things, you cannot do anything. That is destiny.
- Nobody can give you protection. It is false hope. Just like the birds, when they fly in the sky, everyone has to take his own care. Nobody can help anybody. One can help only in Krsna consciousness, not in the material ways. This is called destiny.
- Everything is going on systematically. That is called destiny. Destiny means that so long we are under the laws of nature, that is to happen. You cannot change it. That is not possible. Such law can be changed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Conclusion
The frantic struggle for material advancement is based on the illusion that one can outsmart the laws of nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly explains that every living entity's quota of happiness and distress is already completely fixed—this is called destiny. Because the material body is a product of past karma, trying to artificially increase one's enjoyment only leads to frustration. However, the living entity is not entirely helpless. By understanding that material circumstances cannot be changed, a wise person redirects their free will toward spiritual advancement. By taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can transcend the rigid laws of material destiny and attain the ultimate, eternal protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category That is Called Destiny. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.