What Does the Word "Destiny" Mean to You?

1. 78

   Cristaleposted 10 years ago

   What Does the Word "Destiny" Mean to You?
   
   Why?
   
   

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2. 70

   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   "Destiny" is normally defined as "it was meant to be".
   It's difficult to argue for or against it since (we are where we are). If you turned left instead of right, taken the day off from work, or went to a different vacation destination, restaurant or nightclub you would have had a different experience. Our (choices) matter.
   Most often when we think of the word "destiny" we tie it in with plans we had that (changed or were canceled) which led us into a different direction. This could also entail being laid off from one job which eventually leads to a better job, or giving in to go to a party with a friend where you end up meeting your future spouse.
   Was it destiny? or Is life chalk full of random actions and reactions? In the end I believe "everything happens for the best."
   I can't tell you how many times I've looked back at a "bad experience" which led me into another direction and subsequently put me in a better position. You look up and say if that company hadn't laid me off or that relationship had not ended then I would not have moved to (blank) which led me to meet (blank) and now I'm happier than I have ever been....etc Was it meant to be? hmm

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3. 64

   DeepThought258238posted 10 years ago

   Destiny can be defined as an inevitable outcome. That all events are determined by the divine will OR by some force greater than man, that every event must take place as it does because it has been predetermined.
   
   But the question is do we really have a strong basis for believing in destiny? This belief was very popular amongst Greeks and Romans, however research shows that the bible teaches there is no destiny and there are others who support this. A writer named Corliss Lamont once stated, "How can we attribute ethical responsibility to men, and punish them for wrongdoing, if we accept . . . that their choices and actions are predetermined?" This makes a lot of sense, if everything was predetermined then it wouldn't be fair to punish those who violate the law because it really wouldn't be their fault since it was part of their "destiny".
   
   Many people are not aware that the bible does not support the "destiny" concept. For example in Ecclesiastes 8:9 it states: "...because time and unexpected events overtake them all."  So if unexpected events can overtake us then clearly everything we go thru in life is not pre-planned.
   
   Galatians 6:7 brings out "Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a person is sowing, this he will also reap." So a lot of the things that happens to us really depend on the choices we make.
   
   With that being said how can we make sure that we are making the right choices? Visit www.jw.org to find out.

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4. 50

   PerrySparkposted 10 years ago

   In the dictionary, destiny is defined as:
   1:  something to which a person or thing is destined :  fortune
   2:  a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency
   
   The image indicates that the individual is responsible for the outcome of their destiny.  From this, one would then surmise that the individual can control everything that may enter their environment.
   
   However, I believe that the individual can only control what is to be part of their environment.  From this I mean that the individual can eliminate anything from their environment that they cannot control. 
   
   Therefore, the individuals world is created by themselves based on their personal desire to control.  This then means that if the individuals world is one of love, they proclaim love as their world.  But, it also means that if the individual claims a world of evil, then their world will be filled with evil.
   
   I do believe that the individual is the creator and controller of their own destiny.  I believe that anyone who thinks they cannot create or control their own destiny have accepted a "slave" role within their environment unless, as we have seen in the news lately, they have been enslaved by others.
   
   The destiny of many have been "enslaved" by the governments of many nations as tyrants remove personal freedom from the individual.  But, through self-motivation, some have freed themselves from these tyrants.
   
   Destiny, is therefore still created by the individual either by positive action or in the case of enslavement, no action by the individual.
   
   I live a positive action destiny daily even though I was formerly enslaved by a government.  My thoughts and actions still shake the government as I spread positive energy to others who stand against the tyrants.

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5. 72

   manatita44posted 10 years ago

   In Cosmic moral law, all actions will produce reactions, and all causes will produce effects. (Karma). Karma is divided into three main types but the one which is actually in motion, which is responsible for us being the way we are right now, is said to be Destiny or Fate. This is pretty much the Universal Law.
   
   Sri Chinmoy teaches that fate can be nullified or changed by an unchanging will; that the Soul in man is greater than his fate and finally, all can be done if the God-touch is there. Here are two very interesting and profound statements by the God-Man Sri Chinmoy:
   
   "There is a world which is infinitely higher than the planets. From there we can easily create, and we can also delete anything in our fate. We can also add something new as fate can be adjusted by the Grace of the Supreme. If a highly developed seeker gets Grace either from a Spiritual Master or from God, then the planets cannot influence the seeker.
   
   Even in the case of an ordinary seeker, If the Master intervenes, the planets cannot do anything....God's Grace can change anybody's fate. It changes the occult possibilities and transcends the laws of astrology, which are God's cosmic laws." - Grace, P 34-35, (2003), Aum Publications.
   
   One needs to have total faith in one's aspiration and in God's Grace. According to Sri Chinmoy, God is not bound by any plans and changes the plan from time to time. So that "Everything is pre-destined and again everything is not pre-destined, because God Himself is not bound by any law. He is eternally free."
   
   "On the one hand, while creating the Universe, God has made certain laws so that there will be some system, some order. But God has no starting point. He is the starting point, and He Himself is also the Goal. If in His vision he sees something, then the vision will be transformed into reality, but He can also change this vision to arrive at a different reality.
   
   Since God is not bound by anything, we cannot say that everything is pre-destined. It is predestined for one who believes in Fate. But there is a superior force, the force of the infinite Supreme. So God's infinite Grace can easily nullify, expedite and illumine fate and do anything that it wants to do in order to better the consciousness of humanity." - Dipti Nivas, 1976, Agni Press.
   
   This supreme message is repeated in Sri Chinmoy's works and that of Sri Aurobindo. So yes, generally cosmic law works unfailingly, and would coil around us like a snake. Still, Grace is always the last word.

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