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Summary of Question:	Destiny
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Thursday, 7/11/2002 8:42 PM MDT

I have a question regarding "destiny". Do we as humans have "free will" or is everything already written? Somebody told me that everything is already recorded in Waheguru's book so we can't change anything. Is this true according to Gurbani?

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Sat Siri Akal.

Let's take a look at the following lines and see if we can understand what Guru is saying to us.

This is from Page 469 of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib:

Pa-orhee.
Pauree:

Dhur karam jinaa ka-o tuDh paa-i-aa taa tinee khasam Dhi-aa-i-aa.
Only those whose karma You have pre-ordained from the very beginning, O Lord, meditate on You.

aynaa jantaa kai vas kichh naahee tuDh vaykee jagat upaa-i-aa.
Nothing is in the power of these beings; You created the various worlds.

iknaa no tooN mayl laihi ik aaphu tuDh khu-aa-i-aa.
Some, You unite with Yourself, and some, You lead astray.

gur kirpaa tay jaani-aa jithai tuDh aap bujhaa-i-aa.
By Guru's Grace You are known; through Him, You reveal Yourself.

sehjay hee sach samaa-i-aa. ||11||
We are easily absorbed in You. ||11||

salok mehlaa 1.
Shalok, First Mehl:

dukh daaroo sukh rog bha-i-aa jaa sukh taam na ho-ee.
Suffering is the medicine, and pleasure the disease, because where there is pleasure, there is no desire for God.

tooN kartaa karnaa mai naahee jaa ha-o karee na ho-ee. ||1||
You are the Creator Lord; I can do nothing. Even if I try, nothing happens. ||1||

balihaaree kudrat vasi-aa.
I am a sacrifice to Your almighty creative power which is pervading everywhere.

tayraa ant na jaa-ee lakhi-aa. ||1|| rahaa-o.
Your limits cannot be known. ||1||Pause||

jaat meh jot jot meh jaataa akal kalaa bharpoor rahi-aa.
Your Light is in Your creatures, and Your creatures are in Your Light; Your almighty power is pervading everywhere.

tooN sachaa saahib sifat su-aaliha-o jin keetee so paar pa-i-aa.
You are the True Lord and Master; Your Praise is so beautiful. One who sings it, is carried across.

kaho naanak kartay kee-aa baataa jo kichh karnaa so kar rahi-aa. ||2||
Nanak speaks the stories of the Creator Lord; whatever He is to do, He does. ||2||

Guru seems to be saying here that only the Creative Play of God exists and everything that happens- happens through that Creative Play. Everything that is done is done by God, but understand that you are not separate from that.

"I am doing something" is a false statment. "I can't do anything" is also a false statement. It's the "I" that's false. We do have a pre-ordained destiny written for us - but our conscious participation in that destinty is part of God. To the extent that you have an ego, meditate on the words of the Guru and that will guide you to a higher understanding. This is all the work that's required on your part. God will do the rest.

Anyway, that's just a few thoughts and if you meditate upon these words yourself, I am sure Guru will be able to explain it to you far better than I can.

All love,

GPK