Professor Anil Kumar’s Sunday Satsangat Prasanthi Nilayam
Professor Anil Kumar’s Sunday Satsangat Prasanthi Nilayam
Year 2006
17 September 2006
Somebody asked me while I was on my way to this place, “Why don’t you put aside the prepared talk for a while so that we can ask some questions?” OK. So, if you have any questions, you are quite welcome to put them forth.
(Someone from the crowd asks) “What is sadhana chathushtaya?”
Yes. I will discuss sadhana chathushtaya in a lecture form. I’ll make note of it and do it in one full hour talk. Astanga yoga, sadhana chathushtaya—they are very important topics which have to be dealt with at length, that deserve our attention, and prepare us to proceed along the spiritual path. I appreciate it. I’ll make note of it and will definitely do it in one full hour talk.
(To another inquirer) Yes, please. )
(Gentleman asks) “Define Baba in a few words, please.”
In two words? (Laughter)
(Gentleman clarifies) “In a few words.”
Oh, you want me to tell about Baba in a few words? (Laughter)
“Yeah.”
I’ll tell you in one word—LOVE. Why few words? One word is enough—Love. Love. That’s all.” (Applause) One word. (Anil Kumar laughs.) Yes, sir.
Any other, please? Okay. Yes?
(A lady asks) “I am interested in your comment on the relationship between pre-determination and pre-destination, and that Swami knows all, and free will. Because so often they appear to be in conflict—you may have one but how can you have the other?”
Yes. I think all of you could follow her question. I have answered this question many a time in the past, but since the question has been raised right now, I don’t mind repeating it, making it as brief as possible to save time.
Free will Has nothing to do with God’s will
What we call free will has nothing to do with that which is pre-determined. Free will is human choice; that which is pre-determined is the will of God. Pre-determination, or the will of God, may or may not be the same as human will or effort.
For example, I want to be a doctor, but God’s will may not be the same as my preference or choice. Free will is human choice. It is human preference and depends upon likes, dislikes, and the prevailing socio-economic conditions. But pre-determination, God’s will, is quite independent. It does not necessarily coincide with my preferential will or desire.
Human will is a desire, human will is a choice, human will is a preference, and human will is the determination with which you accomplish something. Human will has got ample scope for human effort, in order to accomplish that which one wants, and to realise that which one wishes. Am I clear on that part? Human will is based on choice, preference, effort, likes, and dislikes. I am clear.
Pre-determination is God’s will. A few points about pre-determination: 1) It is quite independent of our own will. It may coincide or it may not. 2) Whatever the pre-determination, God wills it for our own good. 3) The pre-determination of God’s will is based on the merit or karma of the past lives. This means that God’s will or the Divine will or pre-determination or karma depends on our deserving, more than our desiring. We may desire, but we may not deserve. So, God’s will depends more on deserving than desiring.
acceptance of the outcome is Surrender
Now, how does one make both ends meet? Are they parallel? No. My friend, you and I have every choice to desire. You and I have every freedom to will, to desire, to hope, to plan, and to work. But total acceptance of what happens finally is called surrender—acceptance of what happens ultimately, what is kept in store for me in future, what will materialise at the end. If it is accepted totally and unconditionally, it is called surrender. So, acceptance is surrender; whereas rejection or denial is a psychological reaction to a situation that one has determined negative, which one has not accepted.
So, spiritual sadhana (practice) requires one to put in more human effort while preparing to accept whatever happens at the end, with the spirit that everything happens for one’s own good. That’s how we have to link the two. Yes, any more questions, please? Any more questions? Is that okay? Thank you.
