Free Will, Karma & Astrology

Is everything pre-ordained in life? If so, what is the point of working towards any goal if results are already decided? Many such questions arise & people want to know what is free will, karma & role of Astrology. Let us discuss this in bit detail. We have to know 2 fundamental factors – Karma (individual’s effort/hard work) & Destiny (Luck). All the events that manifest in this world are as a result of above 2 factors.

Karma – If there is one eternal TRUTH that is applicable to all beings on this planet, then it is Law of Karma – “As you sow, so shall you reap”. In simple terms it is Law of cause & effect. Karma is an ongoing thing – what we have already created by our actions the fruits are experienced by us (some times immediate or some times later in future).

Destiny/Luck – No one would deny the role of destiny in life. In any sphere of life, you require luck to be on your side to achieve zenith of success. Luck factor to an extent can be gauged from the horoscope. Birth horoscope shows the potential that one carries & Planetary dashas and transits generally trigger events in life.

So Karma and Destiny are like 2 hands, and when they meet it results in the event “clap”. Similarly in any individual’s life both of the above play important role in any event. Without hard work or lack of effort individual may be deprived of the desired result. Similarly without luck favouring, Individual may not achieve 100% success even if he puts in all his efforts.

So how to deal with this?

Lord Krishna has clearly said in Bhagavad-Gita

Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma phaleshou kada chana, Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani”

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भुर्मा ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मणि

Translation – You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

So any individual who wants to be successful in life, should never shy away from hard work (exercising his “free will”) & never get in negative frame of mind contemplating about adverse result. Lord has said in above verse, that individual doesn’t decide the outcome.

Astrology should be used as a guiding tool for identifying and understanding the problems due to Planetary placements, dashas & Transits (we can also term them as past life karmic reason for your problems). There are numerous ways by which an individual can overcome the challenging problems posed due to above & achieve the desired success –

Meditation – Any form of meditation would eventually unfold in realizing the true self. This would help you to understand that all the phases of the life are transitory.

Mantra Sadhana (See here for Mantra Sadhana) – Achieving oneness with the mantra helps you to tap in to the power of the deity and gives you the strength to combat adverse situations in life.

Charitable donations – Donations in  the right place for right cause helps in alleviating lot of doshas/sins.

Selfless service – Helping others selflessly puts on the right side of the karma and also purity starts to rise within your heart by which you feel divine love everywhere.

Prayer or Vedic Remedies – Vedic Remedies done in authentic way goes a long way in alleviating past life doshas/sins and also prove very useful in combating the adverse affects of malefic planets.

Before concluding, let us remember always that – Astrology or any other discipline never disputes the fact that the spark of divinity is present in all of us & Prakruti/Nature has endowed human beings with sufficient freedom & Free will to make their own choice & Karma.

So let’s be at it and exercise our free will (doing right action/work/karma) while enjoying our duty & without worrying too much about the end result.

MAA Bless All!