Do we have any power to control our own existence or shape Destiny?

How is our destiny shaped? Karma defines our destiny. Everything we come across in this life, for instance, people, circumstances, our own body, the way we speak, act, or think etc are a result of our past life causes, i.e. karmas. And when these karmas give their effects in this life, depending on our inner intent at that time, our future life gets shaped. So, our intentions shape our destiny. Our thoughts, speech and action in this life are a fruit of the karma of past birth(s), and hence, they happen as they are destined to happen. The change in shaping our future destiny lies in our new intent in the present moment. rnHere are a few examples of how our intent plays its role in shaping our destiny. Suppose you are donating to a charity in this life. Now, that is the result of past life causes! Hence, it was destiny. But at the time of donating, if you feel within that, ‘I shouldn’t have donated my money to these people, they are all cheats.’ So the act of donating was a past life cause, but your inner intent at that time has shaped your future life. Therefore now, even if you wish to give some funds to a charity in your next life, you will not be able to do so. You ruled it out of your destiny! In another example, if someone insults you or becomes instrumental in causing you pain, rather than reacting negatively or having thoughts of getting even, if you utilise the understanding that no one is to blame, for it is my own causes of past life that are giving its effect in this life, the person or circumstances involved are merely instrumental in this and nothing more, then that karma gets completed. However, if you feel, ‘how dare he, who does he think he is?’, and you continue to reflect on hurtful thoughts of getting even with the person or keep cursing the person that what an awful person he is, etc., then you sow bad karma i.e. shape your destiny which will cause you further pain. This is how through our own intent, we shape our destiny and control our future, in every circumstance and with every person we encounter. rnWhat type of intents should we sow in order to carve a better future? ● Cultivate an intent that, ‘May no living being be hurt to the slightest extent through my mind, speech and body.’ This is the highest quality of intent in the relative world. By sincerely adhering to such an intent, we sow very good karma. ● Learn the art of forgiving. If you see thoughts arising within, of hurting others or causing someone pain through your actions, then do pratikraman i.e. ask for forgiveness. There are times when we don’t want to hurt others but still it happens, then too ask for forgiveness from God residing within that person. ● Continue to harbour the intent to help others. When we help others without any expectations, then Nature will look after all our essential needs. Therefore, maintain an intent that, ‘I will help others heartily through my mind, speech and body.’ We now know that through our intent, we bind karma and in turn get the results of karma, life after life! But if we want to be liberated from the cycle of birth and death, then we have to stop binding new karma. That happens when we attain the knowledge of the Self. After procuring the right understanding of ‘who am I and which entity is the doer’ from the Enlightened One, as we follow his teachings and maintain the awareness in our day-to-day life, we begin your journey towards ultimate liberation!