Effort is Supreme

 There is no real distinction between Effort and Destiny. What people often refer to as Destiny or fate is, in reality, the result of past actions or Efforts. This teaching is conveyed by Sage Vasistha to Lord Rama in the Yoga Vasistha.

Key Points:

1. Destiny and Effort are Interconnected:
   When an Effort fails due to some external obstruction, the cause of that obstruction is often mistook as Destiny. In essence, the term Destiny refers to the influence of another person's Effort or one's own past actions (Prarabdha).
2. Effort as the Root of Destiny:
   According to Sage Vasistha, there is nothing beyond human Effort. What appears as Destiny is actually the result of one’s actions in previous lives. Thus, Destiny is merely the fruit of past Efforts.
3. Surrender to Destiny is Ignorance:
   Thinking that one is helplessly bound by Destiny and cannot act independently is incorrect. Such thoughts should be abandoned through the company of virtuous people and the study of scriptures. A wise person should strive for liberation from the ocean of worldly existence through his Effort.
4. Effort Brings Results:
   The outcome of any situation depends on the intensity of the Effort. Whatever result one desires can be achieved through appropriate Effort.  
5. Destiny is Not Separate from Past Karma:
   The suffering that is perceived as Destiny is simply the result of one's own past actions. Just as a strong person can defeat a weaker one, even the effects of past karma can be overcome through present Effort.
6. Transforming Negative Karma:
   Bad deeds of the past can be nullified through good actions in the present. For example, improper behavior in the past can be rectified through virtuous conduct today, and similarly, the ill effects of past karma can be erased through positive actions.
7. Fate vs. Action:
   Those who rely solely on Destiny and do not make any Effort are foolish and ignorant. True wisdom lies in understanding that Effort has the power to shape and even overcome what is wrongly considered Destiny.
8. Effort’s Superiority Over Destiny:
   Even in situations where Destiny appears to dominate, the underlying cause is always human Effort, whether of the present or the past. If something is destroyed by fate, it is ultimately due to the superior Effort of the opposing force.
9. What is Under Human Control vs. What is Not:
   Certain things are directly under a person’s control, where Effort can yield results. However, certain things are not under direct control. Yet, even in these cases, it is human Effort (either one's own or others') that becomes the determining factor.
10. The Role of Effort in Outcomes:
    An example is given of two fruits on a branch - one hollow and the other full of juice. If the juicy fruit loses its essence, it is due to the Effort of a person or a creature consuming it. Even something well-formed in this world can be destroyed, and this destruction results from someone’s stronger Effort.
11. Conflict Between Past and Present Actions:
    The actions of past lives (Prarabdha) and present Efforts are compared to two rams fighting. The stronger one always wins. This demonstrates how current Effort has the power to overcome past karma if it is sufficiently strong.
12. Effort vs. Destiny in Royal Examples:
    A beggar becoming a king is cited as an example. While the beggar’s past good karma (Destiny) made him worthy of kingship, it was the Effort of ministers, citizens, and a decorated elephant that facilitated the coronation. Without their Effort, the beggar could not have become king. Thus, the result of past actions alone  is not sufficient; Effort (one’s own and that of others) acts as the primary supporting factor.
13. Effort as the Primary Force:
    Human Effort is so powerful that it can elevate even the most ordinary individual to the highest positions. Just as food is chewed and broken down before consumption, Effort breaks down obstacles and weaker forces. Strong and capable individuals overpower the weak and less capable, shaping events according to their will.
14. The Misinterpretation of Destiny:
    Weak or ignorant individuals often attribute the outcomes of visible or invisible Efforts to Destiny or fate. However, this is due to their inability to recognize the underlying Effort. Among capable beings, the strongest one governs and controls the others, demonstrating that Effort, not Destiny, is the real driving force.
15. Hierarchy of Efforts:
    Even the most capable individuals are governed by those with greater power. This establishes a natural hierarchy where Effort rules over all beings, leaving no room for the existence of an independent Destiny.
16. Destiny is Effort Misunderstood:
    Yoga Vasishta concludes that what is termed as Destiny is nothing but the result of collective Effort, intelligence, and action. Ministers, citizens, and natural circumstances that collectively make decisions or changes (like appointing a beggar as a king) are all examples of Effort in action. Therefore, Destiny, as an independent entity, does not exist.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi