18.SING WITH SHAKESPEARE-12
Fate V Free will
FREE WILL OR FATE? The debate will never abate among our theologians , philosophers and other pundits. There are strong arguments for either side; it would be amusing to follow them, but for their inability to resolve the conflict!
The weight of orthodox opinion seems to be that fate or destiny prevails in the end, though that is no reason why a man should not exert his best towards the desired end. After all, one does not know what is fate, until after the event.
Reading and controlling fate?
Astrology and such other systems flourish on their claim to unlock the secrets of fate and outwit or alter its course, but in the end they are not infallible, and do not work in all cases.
Whatever may be the truth of 'the science of astrology', most of its practitioners are cheats or charlatans, or half-baked at best. Especially in India where the 'readings' are a prelude to remedies, and that is how bucks roll ! And then how do we know that what they do is not overcoming fate, but that what prevails in the end is what is ordained? The language of astrologers and soothsayers like Nostradamus is couched in ambiguity and we can exclaim with Macbeth:
And be these juggling fiends no more believ'd,
That palter with us in a double sense,
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope.
Tiruvalluvar on the might of fate
Tiruvalluvar condenses the orthodox Indian view in ten couplets on the might of Fate or Destiny.
ஆகூழால் தோன்றும் அசைவின்மை; கைப்பொருள்
போகூழால் தோன்றும் மடி. 371
Resolution comes to a man when Destiny is about to bring good fortune.
Indolence appears when fortune is about to leave.
பேதைப் படுக்கும் இழவூழ்; அறிவகற்றும்
ஆகல்வூழ் உற்றக் கடை. 372
Evil fate makes the faculties dull; but when fate brings good fortune, she first
expands his intelligence.
நுண்ணிய நூல்பல கற்பினும் மற்றும்தன்
உண்மை அறிவே மிகும். 373
What does learning and all its subtleties avail in the end?
When Destiny drives, it is one's native wisdom ( or the lack of it, ordained by fate) that prevails.
நல்லவை எல்லாம் தீயவாம்; தீயவும்
நல்லவாம் செல்வம் செயற்கு. 375
When the tide of fate is against one, even good things turn evil;
and evil things turn to good when the tide is on!
பரியினும் ஆகாவாம் பாலல்ல; உய்த்துச்
சொரியினும் போகா தம. 376
What destiny denies, one cannot keep even with utmost care.
And what destiny makes yours will not go away even if you throw them away wilfully.
[ Sri Tyagaraja sang:
" Raa nidhi raadhu surasuralukaina
Po nidhi podhu bhusuralukaina"
Even for Devas and Asuras what is not destined to come will not come.
What is not destined to go will not go even for Brahmins.]
வகுத்தான் வகுத்த வகையல்லால் கோடி
தொகுத்தார்க்கும் துய்த்தல் அரிது. 377
Except as the Ordainer has ordained, even one who has amassed millions cannot enjoy his riches.
நன்றாங்கால் நல்லவாக் காண்பவர் அன்றாங்கால்
அல்லற் படுவது எவன்? 379
They that rejoice when good fortune comes, why should they fret when they encounter evil ?
ஊழிற் பெருவலி யாவுள ? மற்றொன்று
சூழினும் தான் முந்துறும். 380
What is there that is mightier than Destiny? Even as one plans to outwit it, it forestalls him and brings him down.
These are so direct and simple in meaning, we need not bother to have them commented upon. The inexorable nature of destiny as presided over or manipulated by the gods was the theme of the Greek Tragedies that were staged in ancient Greece as part of a religious festival, sponsored by the State!
Shakespearean tragedies do not go to the same extent but the message that we are toys in the hands of a destiny or divinity is unmistakable.
As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods.
They kill us for their sport.
(Gloucester in King Lear.)
And praised be rashness for it: let us know
Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well
When our deep plots do pall, and that should teach us
There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them how we will—
[ Hamlet ]
There is a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them how we will- no matter what we try, it is destiny that prevails!.
Our wills and fates do so contrary run
That our devices are still overthrown;
Our thoughts are ours; our ends none of our own.
[Hamlet]
Let Hercules himself do what he may,
The cat will mew and dog will have his day.
[Hamlet ]
As the popular song in the Hitchcock movie 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1956) said
Whatever will be, will be
The future is not ours to see
Que sera sera !
O God, that one might read the book of fate
[Henry IV, part two ]
O, if this were seen,
The happiest youth, viewing his progress through,
What perils past, what crosses to ensue,
Would shut the book, and sit him down and die.
There is a history in all men’s lives
Figuring the nature of the times deceased,
The which observed, a man may prophesy,
With a near aim, of the main chance of things
As yet not come to life, which in their seeds
And weak beginnings lie intreasurèd.
Such things become the hatch and brood of time,
And by the necessary form of this,
[Henry IV, part two ]
There is a suggestion here that it is our past deeds which shape our future, and we may prophesy such things which are yet to come! Yet, the earlier part says that even the happiest youth would close the book if he read in it the kind of troubles seen!
What fates impose, that men must needs abide;
It boots not to resist both wind and tide.
[Henry VI, part three]
Sometimes we assert that anyone can achieve anything, that the key is with us. The American Dream is based on that idea.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
[ Cassius in Julius Caesar ]
Yet at other times, we realise that we cannot fight the unseen forces of life, alone!
The stars above us govern our conditions.
[King Lear ]
Who can control his fate?
[Othello ]
Are these sentiments conflicting?
Not at all. Man must try his best according to his lights, and not sit idle. But such lights are also provided by destiny or fortune.
Men's judgments are
A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them
To suffer all alike.
[Antony And Cleopatra ]
Fortune reigns in the gifts of the world.
[As You Like It]
But overall, there is the firm hope that providence will aid the man who is right.
If angels fight,
Weak men must fall, for heaven still guards the right.
[Richard II ]
Is there hope against destiny?
Is there hope against destiny?
Is the message depressing? If things happen according to fate, why should man bother to strive at all? But no one knows what is destined, until it happens! So man must try his best according to his intelligence and circumstances. Fatalism is not true religion or philosophy.
Kanchenjunga. tourmet.com. thanks.
Tiruvalluvar says in the Kural :
தெய்வத்தான் ஆகா தெனினும் முயற்சிதன்
மெய்வருந்தக் கூலி தரும். 619
Even though the gods may be against, hard work is bound to attract
the wages it deserves.
ஊழையும் உப்பக்கம் காண்பர் உலைவின்றித்
தாழாது உஞற்று பவர். 620
Those who labour hard and not succumb will get the better of destiny.
Throughout, we may discern that fate or providence is not a blind force but is driven by divinity. We may leave those who have no faith in God to their devices, inclination or sad choice. But for those of us who believe in a divinity above destiny, there is still hope. As the Tamil saint Jnanasambandha sang:
அவ்வினைக்கிவ்வினையாம் என்று சொல்லுமஃதறிவீர்
உய்வினை நாடாதிருப்பதும் உந்தமக்கூனமன்றே
கைவினை செய்தெம்பிரான் கழல் போற்றுதும் நாமடியோம்
செய்வினை வந்தெமைத் தீண்டப்பெறா திருநீலகண்டம்.
You all know to repeat well that you have brought on your present fate by your own past actions.
Are you not ashamed that you are not seeking a remedy?
We will serve the Lord our God with all our faculties.
So shall we worship at His feet.
Then the evil effects of past actions will not touch us.
So we order in the Name of the Lord.
So, in this fight against fate, we are safe with the Sages and Saints.
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