FATALISM AND FREE WILL

Many among us believe that ‘there is a Divinity that shapes our end.” This belief, or rather faith, gives us comfort when we face failures or suffer a misfortune. Poet Shelley calls this, ‘a clinging to something afar / from the sphere of our sorrow’. Remove this faith, and we are weighed down by miseries and a feeling of remorse. If belief in fatalism provides a soothing balm in times of suffering, it also robs us of our ability to innovate and to be creative. It reduces life to a routine. We become a pawn or plaything. Khalil Gibran says,

“It is all a checker board of nights and days
Which destiny men for pieces days,
Hither and thither moves, mates and slays
And one bye one comes back to the closet and lays”.

Astrologers predict the future, based on planetary movements. In their scheme of things, human beings have to surrender meekly to planets. And yet, they also suggest ‘pariharas’ or palliatives. The effects of evil design of a malevolent planet would diminish if we propitiate a God, astrologers would argue. Fatalism, with a difference, perhaps!

But there are others, who would not submit to planetary influences. ‘I am the master of my fate and I am the captain of my soul’ they seem to say. If they do not have their way, they would not blame the stars. Like Caezar, they would confess – ‘The fault lies not in our Stars, but in ourselves. We are under- links’. The champions of free- will honestly believe that they can shape their future and that they are not dependent on the forces above. Though the protagonists of free- will are innovators and creative, as they do not have a support to fall back upon, they crumble and at times are smashed to smithereens, if their efforts let them down and they meet failures. In times of distress one needs a shoulder to cry upon. The drowning man looks at least for a straw to hold.

Two young bright ones, worked dedicatedly to pass a competitive examination and when one cleared the examination with distinction, the other, met with an accident and had to drop out of the examination. Do we call it conspiracy of the cosmic forces or failure of efforts? Would reasoning or technicalities provide consolation during such moments?

If belief in fatalism deprives us of our drive to do and excel, dependence on efforts alone may not bear fruit always and we would not have the strength to withstand failures. How to reconcile the two and emerge out winners? Krishna shows the way. ‘Put in efforts, and yet have the equanimity to accept success and failures alike’ is the advice. It is not indifference to results, which is a negative quality, but its acceptance without demur. It gives us a chance to analyse our failure, should there be a failure and put up a much better effort next time. After all, failure is the greatest teacher. We continue to be creative and yet, failures do not make us crest- fallen. Abandoning and leaving it to fate, is certainly taboo. Put in efforts with a single minded devotion and accept the result is the message. It has no religious significance, but only a psychological undertone. It instils courage in us and fortify our fortitude to face the vicissitudes of fortune. It is not a dogma because it can stand the test of time.