On Destiny vs. Freewill

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You ask, “if everything the that the body does and experiences happens in material nature – then what blame or glory is there for the soul? If everything is predetermined and I have no freewill, then I am not responsible for my actions.”

Right. If you have no freewill, you could not be held accountable for your actions. If everything that happens in the world happens only in matter, and has nothing to do with spirit – then the soul can never be blamed for anything bad it’s body does (nor praised for anything good).

However it is wrong to believe that you have no freewill and that your soul is not the origin of all the actions your body performs and everything it experiences. Very wrong.

This whole chapter [referring to Bhagavad Gita Chapter 13] is about how spirit combines with matter and what happens as a result. “Matter changes form constantly and easily. This attracts the spirit soul who wants to shape it’s world into forms that s/he finds personally enjoyable. Thus the soul becomes welded to matter, bound to it, braided into it.”

From this, and from all the rest of the information in the chapter, we learn that this material world is a combination of matter and spirit – it is a cooperation of matter and spirit. Your question is based on a wrong definition of this combined cooperative relationship: the idea that the soul is a passive observer of matter. That is not what we hear from Krsna here in the 13th chapter. What we hear, in fact, is just the opposite! That the soul is the active principle, and that matter bends and shapes itself around the soul, and the soul’s desires. The soul is an interactive participant in matter. That is what we should learn, if nothing else, from the 13th chapter.

Your question is answered at this point. I am not sure how clearly I could explain it. I am sorry about that. If its unclear perhaps you could reread it a few times, and feel free to ask for clarification.

A little bit more to say…

Karma is the marriage of freewill and destiny. The soul desires something (freewill). It exerts this will towards matter which, being inferior to the soul, must attempt to comply. However the physics of the system of matter entails cause and effect, and inter-dependence. Therefore as the soul pushes matter in one direction with its will, the psycho-physical nature of matter itself generates a ripple, and we experience that ripple as “destiny.”

Different desires push matter in different ways into different shapes, and these generate lots of different types of ripples in the material energy – all these ripples interact with one another to make destiny (and the reading of it – astrology) a very, very, very complicated thing.

Once you throw a stone into a pond, the ripple moves on its own accord. However it is the stone, not the ripple, which caused the movement on the pond. Similarly, destiny appears to be “predetermined” – moving on its own, but actually it is the will of the soul which moved the lake of the material world and caused the ripple. Once the ripple is caused it is very difficult to stop (though it can be done by cancelling it with other ripples and withdrawing from agitating the pond, etc.). The ripple has its own force, sometimes becoming like a tidal wave. And that force seems to be, and is, beyond our control. Thus it feels like “predestination.” But it is our own desires which caused us to interact with the world and disturb the surface of the lake.

I have an article on this subject which more patiently and simply describes the relationship between destiny and freewill, and their interdependence and marriage in the concept of “karma.” Here is the link, I hope you will read it and it will be clarifying for you.

http://www.vicdicara.com/prep_karma.php

- Vic DiCara

http://www.vicdicara.com

Vedic Pantheon – and the 1st lord in the 9th house

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In Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, the sage Parashara illustrates the nature of the 1st lord in the 9th house by stating that it inclines one to become a “Vishnu devotee.” I will now explain what he is talking about.

The Vedic pantheon contains many gods. There are two reason why: (1) There are many powers in nature, thus many gods, and (2) There are many different people who need different things from religion. Most of the gods have specific roles, rather like sanctified stores in the shopping mall of religion. If you need x,y,z go to God #34, if you need a,b,c go to God #28, etc. The head among the gods are Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. Brahma is not quite on the same level as the other two because he, like the other gods, is an ordinary being invested with the power to act as a god. Vishnu and Shiva, on the other hand are directly Godhead. So these two are well known as the cheif Gods of the Vedic pantheon. Shiva has the responsibility of destroying things – ultimately the entire universe; while Vishnu takes charge of preserving the universe and its components.

The 1st lord in the 9th house increases ones interest in being moral, which in some form or another is “religion.” In a sense, the 1st lord in the 9th house – on it’s own, in isolation from other factors in your horoscope – is a symbol of the pinnacle of morality and religiousity. The author illustrates this by pointing specifically to Vishnu specifically because he, following the standard classical Vedic conclusion, considered Vishnu-centered religion the topmost evolution of morality. Why? Because it is the least selfish. After all, selfishness is the antithesis of morality! So it is very logical that the gods whose function is to fulfill desires, etc. are subordinate to the Godhead who is worshipped for the sake of morality alone.

Actually, the author does not merely point to “Vishnu-religion.” He points to a “Vishnu devotee.” This refers specifically to the Vedic spiritual path of bhakti. Bhakti is the root of all spiritual paths because it is the essence of all morality – love.

By illustrating the 1st lord in the 9th house with the image of a Vishnu devotee, the author means to communicate that this placement makes one truly moral, truly religious. It decreases the interest in religious pretention or secterian badge-wearing and increases the interest of being at the heart of what morality and religion really is all about: serving others and loving the divine.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

Is God Wronged By Worship of Gods/Planets?

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Question

I was wondering if I chant a mantra to a planetary god (like Saturn / Shani) to mitigate some of the negative effects that planet might bring into my life, is this an offense to my main interest of worshiping God, especially by chanting God’s names in the mahamantra?

My Answer

You have asked me a wonderful question, and I am lucky to receive it. I know there are many others with the same thoughts on their mind. I hope that somehow they find their way to this discussion.

For the mahamantra to be effective, it must be chanted intentionally by a person with pure devotion in their hearts, and without any of the 10 offenses. If purity lacks or if the name is chanted unintentionally, it is not the pure mantra (shuddha-nama) it is a reflection of the mantra (nama-abhasa). Truthfully, the reflection of the mahamantra is also EXTREMELY powerful and purifying and tends to lead soon towards the pure mantra. If one chants the mantra with offenses, s/he chants neither the pure mantra nor the reflection of the mantra, but chants only an offended shell of the mantra (nama-aparadha).

You are worried that chanting mantras for demigods, such as Saturn (“Shani”), might be an offense to the mahamantra. So, lets see what the offenses are.

There are 10. The essence of all of the offenses (aparadha) is not have, or especially to express, non-loving (apa-radha) feelings towards components of divine love.

1. Ill will towards saintly people (people who are chanting the mantra themselves)

2. Ill will towards guru (the one who gives the mantra and guides us on its proper application and use)

3. Ill will towards the gods (who are both saints and gurus for us, and who work on God’s behalf)

4. Ill will towards religious scriptures, (which gradually help people become saintly)

5. To feel that the glories of the mantra must be exaggerated

6. To interpret the mantra to mean something merely metaphorical

7. To willingly commit moral wrongs thinking the mantra exempts you from the consequences.

8. To think that the mahamantra is something to be used for material gain or personal liberation.

9. To push the mantra on people who do not deserve or desire to have it.

10. To hold fast in loving your false ego even after you hear the truth.

Now that we know the offenses, lets see if it is an offense to pray to a god like Shani / Saturn for good karma to come during it’s cycle in our lives.

It COULD be a violation of the 3rd offense – which is to consider that the gods are intrinsically different and distinct from the Supreme Personality. However if one respectfully worships the demigods knowing that their greatness comes as a result of their connection to the Supreme Personality – that is NOT an offense to the Supreme Personality nor to the divine name of the Supreme.

Moreover, it COULD be a violation of the 8th offense to chant the divine mahamantra for a mundane purpose!

If what you want is to be relieved of bad karma, you can

a) Chant to the demigod controlling that karma, knowing that s/he/it is authorized and empowered by the supreme to deal with this topic. This will not offend the demigod, nor the supreme.

b) Accept a higher truth that “all karma is good” and not worry about altering your karma at all, but rather give your attention to using all your karma to help mold yourself into something more pleasing towards the Supreme. For this, you can exclusively chant the Mahamantra.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

What Gives Planets Power Over Us?

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Q: Can you tell em lil bit more about Durga Mata
as to how she is the Base diety of Rahu?
etc

yes that is an important topic actually, because it explains what gives planets “power over us.”
the essentials are this…
(i may have to stop suddenly if/when the appointment comes online)

Q: np
Q:

the essentials are…
that energy flows from a source
always
every wire is connected to a turbine, eventually
and every turbine works on principles eventually manifested by the original turbine of the universe, the sun
and that sun manifests a reflection of the transcendental turbine – the brahmajyoti
and that bhramajyoti is the effulgence coming of the self-manifesting turbine of bhagavan
so
parashara begins his hora shastra by saying,
“the nine planets manifest the energy of Vishnu…
… for the sake of administering the karma of jivas”
thus each planet is “plugged” into the power source of vishnu
but each has a different wire
and a different outlet
the outlets are the nine primary of the ten avatars
excluding kalki
Sun comes from Vishnu as Rama
Moon comes from Vishnu as Krsna
Mars comes from Vishnu as Narasimha

Q: Oh Moon is Krsna I didnt know..Thanks

Mercury Vishnu as Buddha
Jupiter Vishnu as Vamana
Venus Vishnu as…. hmmm i have to check…
Saturn is Vishnu as Kurma
Rahu is Matsya
no Rahu is Varaha
Ketu is Matsya
AHA Venus is Parashurama
the peace lover

Q: (how do we reconcile shukra with shukracharya and Vishnu and parsurama?
but that is separate question…you address some other time
pls continue

then there is a chain of “turbines” from the outlet to the graha
Take the Sun
All power comes from Svayam Bhagavan
then into the world through Sri Rama
then towards the Sun through Shiva
Shiva passes the energy to Agni
Agni gives it to Surya
thus the Sun Graha becomes empowered to control karmas
each planet has this trail

Venus for example
Power comes ultimately, as always, from the Supreme Person… into the world through his incarnation as Parashurama (the man who loved peace so much that he killed all the warriors)
Parashurama hands the power to Indra
Indra gives it to his wife, Indrani
Indrani gives it to Shukra(acarya)
who uses it to empower the Graha, “venus”
see?

Apparently my appointment is not coming online

Q:

so I can tell you the rest of the planets
see each personality takes the energy from the former and imparts unto it his or her own unique characteristics
This is why Venus is so opulent, skilled, beautiful and peaceloving
as a result of the chain of energy flow TO Shukracarya
so then there is the Moon

Q: Oh…Parsurama-Indra-Indrani-Shukracharya connection…
and Durga Mata?

From the Fountainhead the energy flows into the world through the incarnation of Krsna. Krsna sends the power forward to Parvati – Shiva’s consort. Parvati gives it to Apas, the Water goddess, Apas gives it to Chandra who uses it to empower the “Moon.”
That’s the Moon
Now about Durga
She empowers Rahu
the energy path is…
From the fountainhead through Varaha, the boar incarnation, to Durga the destructive goddess, to Rahu who empowers the “north node” to control karma.
see?

Q: so its a connection with Vishnu
always
whether Rahu or Shukra

Ketu’s path is: Fountainhead -> Matsya (the fish) -> Chitragupta, the reckoner of death -> Ketu -> “S. Node”

Q: oic

Parashara is in line with the Vedantic Siddhanta:
The Vedantic Siddhanta (Perfect conclusion of the Veda) is summarized in the Sutra: Janma-adi-yasya yatha
meaning “everything comes from Vishnu”

Q: Oh ok

so he clearly states at the beginning of his work, the Hora Shastra, that all the planets and all their power comes from Vishnu
therefore his work can be accepted as “Vedic”

Q: )
Q: so my Narayan Hriday Stotras– actually end up giving me grace marks? in all power outlets??

Correct Correct Correct!
I will post this, OK?

Q: OK

It is an interesting read for people

Q: NP

Let me tell the other planet’s paths

For MARS…. From the Fountainhead into the world through Narasimha (the feirce Man-Lion) who passes it to Skanda (God of War) to Bhumi (the Goddess of the Earth) to Kuja who is the being empowering the graha/planet called “Mars”
You can see the fierceness all the way

Q: Mars is also the’ Bhumiputra’

And Bhumi gives the ability to conquer the earth and gain territory
Mars is born without a father
only of the Earth
and he takes no wife
because he is selfish and self-oriented and doesn’t want to deal with cooperating with a woman!

Q: ‘Men are from Mars’ I would say ‘Single Men are from Mars’

Yep! Good one

now for MERCURY… From the Fountainhead into the world through Buddha (The enlightened) on to Narayana (the maintainer of the cosmos) on to Vishnu as a demigod who maintains the substance of the cosmos, on to Budha the deity who empowers the planet “Mercury” to hold our karmas
you can see the organizational skill and the intelligence all the way

Q: Now you are saying Narayan and Vishnu to be two different

They have different roles
one is the “karanodakshayi vishnu”
the other is the “ksirodaksayi vishnu”
and people have more than one name, so it can get confusing, I agree
in this case I believe that Narayana refers to the karanodaskayi Vishnu – the “Quantum Vishnu” lying on the ocean of causality.
And then “Vishnu” refers to the demigod vishnu
who lies on the ocean of milk
and maintains the substance of the cosmos
ok?

Q: ok
got it
Q: Multiple Hats worn by same Power

right

JUPITER… From the Fountainhead into the world through Vamana (the small boy who expands to fill the whole universe) on to Brahma (creator of all law and wisdom) on to Indra and then to Brihaspati who uses it to empower the planet “Jupiter”

Q: ok

only Saturn remains…
of course always last…
SATURN gets power from Godhead entering the world as Kurma (the turtle who held a mountain on his back). From there it passes to the Prajapati (The creator of life). Then to Yamaraja (God of death), finally to Shani, who is the deity of the planet “Saturn”

It is actually the deities – Shani, Shukra, Surya, Chandra, etc. – who control the karma of us all, NOT the rocks out in space which merely move to indicate their intentions
in Saturn’s case you can see the flow of energy creating forebearance, longevity, inescapable reality and death

Q: The Rocks with their pull exert force on us
I believe the deities control us through that force

no they do not

Q: They dont?

the effect of the gravity of the planets is absolutely negligable

Q: oh ok

there is more gravitational pull from a candle down the hall than there is from Saturn

Q: except that of Moon?

regardless of the amount, gravity is a physical law
it is NOT the physical bodies in outer space that control our destiny!

Q: Okie

it is the deities of inner space who control that destiny
the globes floating around out there merely represent or reflect their inner movements and intentions
Ultimately the planetary deities are called “Graha”
it means they “hold” things
what do they hold?

Q: Fruits?
Q: and Rewards?

apples
right, “fruits” as in results
foolish people think the planets hold YOU
they do not
they hold things in the same way a tape recorder holds sound
they record
and hold records of your freewill
and thus administer the proper “fruits” or results

Q: You mean to say…you are naked in front of them?

they are within you
so you are not “in front of them” really
they are inside your being, they COMPOSE your being
Sun is your ego
Moon is your heart/mind
Mercury your thoughts
Venus your body and senses
Mars your energy
Jupiter your wisdom
Saturn is your limitation

Q: what is Rahu?
within a human body

Rahu is your ability to go forward in time
Ketu is your ability to go backwards and remember

Q: Is ketu linked to Past Birth memories?

yes Ketu is

Q: and then would Rahu be responsible for fortune tellers

Rahu is responsible for people who see the future, yes – fortune tellers, inventors, innovators, revolutionaries, etc.

being within you the planetary deities record everything, every way you utilize your will
and they hold on to those recordings
until the right conditions allow them to erase the recording by bestowing the just reward or punishment for what they recorded

A chain of deities decending from God gives them the AUTHORITY to do so
that is the chain we discussed

Q: yes..

OK, time for me to GO
I will post this now OK?

Q: Ok np
“To be contd…”

Krsne Matir Astu!

Q: Jai Sri Krishna