20 August 2015 - QA 6

How can I know myself? Sometimes I do not understand what is the right direction for me.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

See, life is a combination of both destiny and free will. I know this question is in the minds of many of you. How many of you here were thinking about this very question? Raise your hands (many in the audience raise hands in agreement). Ah, see! I was getting all your vibes.

Life is not only destiny, and life is not only free will. If anyone thinks that life is just free will, then know that they are not sincere. It is not all free will and neither is it all destiny. An intelligent person will always see the past as destiny, and the future as free will. If you think that the past was about free will, then you will only sit and regret in the present. And if you think that the future is all destiny then you will have no enthusiasm to do anything in the present. So fools think that the past was free will and the future is destiny, and get depressed and become unhappy..

Someone once asked me, “Did you become a Guru by choice or by accident?”
I said, “By accident!” -- so that is the destiny. Knowing that the past is destiny, the future is free will, you should live happily in the present moment. This is wisdom.

A strong body can carry a weak mind, but a weak mind cannot carry even a strong body. Clarity in the mind and purity in the heart are the signs of happiness. Having these will uplift your spirit, and it has not left anyone untouched.