Stop Blaming Fate

When we look around, we see all kinds of dealings in daily life where we might win or lose. We often get tangled in these wins and losses and wind up forming strong attachments or harboring resentments. But wise teachings of Yoga Vasishta remind us that if we let go of excessive attachment and hatred and base our actions on time-tested principles of our scriptures, then success flows in its own natural way.

In the teachings of Yoga Vasishta, true effort is praised above all else. Some people say we should just accept our 'fate' as though everything is fixed in advance. But, in reality, you have a hand in writing your own destiny. It's not about denying that your past actions might carry over into your present circumstances. Instead, it is about recognizing that your current choices have the power to elevate or cancel out any negative baggage you might be carrying. Just like a mistake made yesterday can be redeemed by a good deed today, your ongoing effort changes your overall outcomes.

The best kind of effort is guided by a moral or spiritual framework. Call it a scripture, a time-honored teaching, or a trusted ethical code - having such guidance can keep you from straying into destructive behaviors. For instance, surrounding yourself with people who uplift you (rather than drag you down), learning from a mentor or guide, and studying wisdom that makes you more aware of your true nature can sharpen your mind and light a path to self-improvement. In other words, real self-reliance involves not just trusting yourself but also cultivating the intelligence to know how best to move forward.

Some people think of 'fate' as the leftover good fortune from past lives or past actions. That concept itself isn't necessarily wrong. If you've sown good seeds before, you may indeed come into this life with certain advantages. But if we assume that our future is solely determined by those past seeds, with no room for our present effort, we sell ourselves short. Worse yet, we might slip into a self-defeating loop, where we stop trying because we believe a made-up version of fate that says, 'Everything is out of my hands.'

In contrast, when you embrace your own power - your drive, your focus, and your willingness to act - you open the door to new possibilities. The results of effort are often as visible and tangible as holding a fruit in your own hand. So if you choose to do something good, meaningful, or transformative, the payoff becomes clear. You are not fated to be stuck in the same pattern forever.

Ultimately, the message is simple: never underestimate your ability to shape your present and your future. If anything, faith should motivate you to keep putting your best foot forward, not to shrug your shoulders in helplessness. By leaning on your own continuous, well-guided effort - rather than a hollow idea of fate - you can secure the well-being of both this life and beyond.

So let go of the illusion that 'life just happens to me.' Step forward with the understanding that you have the power to steer yourself in a better direction. Serve what is good, learn from sources of wisdom, keep company with genuine, uplifting people, and stay open to growing and changing. In doing so, you not only make your life brighter but also inspire others to trust in their own strength.

In the end, it's your own actions, carried out with clarity and purpose, that truly matter.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi