The question of destiny has intrigued man for centuries. To what extent is man free or bound to a predetermined fate? It is a grave error to believe that all human beings without exception are necessarily bound by the same laws. Obviously if one behaves like animals do i.e., obey one’s sensations and passions and one’s purely instinctive impulses, then one is ruled by fate. Whereas those who are much more highly evolved, escape the clutches of fate and enter into the world of Grace. The great masters of humanity belong to this second category, but most humans drift in a middle zone; i.e. between animals and the divine. One must not think that everyone is free, not that everyone is subject to an implacable fate. The truth is that freedom depends on one’s level of evolution. Until such time as one attains total freedom, one is still subject to law of Karma in some areas of one’s life, whereas in others one is free.
Many types of different philosophies concerning freedom are in circulation and they all set out to convince individuals that one is free. Yes, one may think that one is free just as long as one knows nothing of the pattern on which the universe is built or of the cosmic forces which influence humans. Hence one imagines that when one has to decide on a course of action, one is free to choose and decide what to do. It never occurs to one that most of the time one is a pawn in the hands of forces that one knows nothing about. The ancient astrologers used to say that the stars influence but do not determine or that the wise man is above being influenced by stars. The stars, therefore do influence human beings in one direction or the other. When one is very highly evolved one feels their influence, but they cannot force one into anything against one’s will. However, when one is weak it is a different matter, one behaves as though the stars drive one on irresistibly, without one even being aware of it. This can be illustrated with an example - when a pretty girl is attracted to a boy she does not have to say ‘come with me’.
She simply smiles and behaves in such a way as to egg him on and it is he who starts besieging her with his attentions. She does not say or do anything and yet she manages to attract him and he being weak, lets himself be influenced. The stars are similar to the pretty girls, they arouse something in you - anger or sensuality for instance - and then they leave you alone, because they know very well that you will go all the way. Then they say, ‘but we didn’t force you, you were free to do as you wanted!’ By then one has gone too far and the damage has been done.
Let’s say that one is highly evolved and has a debt to pay, instead of being obliged to pay it on the physical level, one can pay it on the astral or the mental level.
One way or another, one has to pay but one is free to choose and decide on what level one will do so. But others, who are still on the lowest rungs of the evolutionary ladder, are not free to choose, they have to pay in whatever way they are told to.
Be sure to remember that whatever one does one should not imagine that one can ever get out of paying one’s debts. One may be allowed to pay this in different ways, but one must pay them.
The only freedom involved is in the choice of currency one will use, but no one is free to avoid a karmic debt. On the other hand, if one decides to go back to a life of selfishness every thing will change once again. One will again go through suffering and disillusionment, even though one maybe unaware of one’s actions.
This article is taken from the book Life Beyond Death written by Anil Sharma