We are all but creatures of Destiny

After the war of Mahabharata, Yudhisthira asked Bheeshma: "Having killed so many people in the war, what should we do with this Kingdom?" Bheeshma replied, "This is only called as Destiny. How can you call it destiny if you know it beforehand?" Therefore Shakespeare said: “We are all but creatures of Destiny." We cannot say what is going to happen in an hour. It is because everything happens in its own time. Though, in a hurry to die, death doesn't approach you even a minute earlier. Suppose you have the desire to live more and the purpose for which the body came onto the earth is fulfilled, the death of the body happens as per God's will. It doesn't stop even for a minute.

Even suicide is a part of destiny. It is the will of God that a particular body has to end in that manner. When and where the body has to take birth, the parents, relatives, enemies etc pertaining to the body are all part of destiny.Money, Scholarship, honor, power,and fame are all part of destiny. Whether the body has to be tall or short, whether it has to be black or white in color, whether it has to be fat or thin is all decided by the destiny. Even intellect is decided by the destiny.

Ravindranath Tagore addressed the Supreme Lord in the National Anthem: Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people and the dispenser of India's destiny(Janagaṇamana-adhināyaka jaya he Bhāratabhāgyavidhātā). Therefore destiny prevails even for a nation. Wars and natural calamities affect a particular nation only due to that nation’s destiny.

Who can change the lines of the forehead(destiny)?
Several mysterious incidents took place in Ramayana. There is a lot of similarity between our lives and Ramayana. Ravana had abducted Sita very cunningly. It is the foolishness of several people that enabled him to do so. Lord Rama is an incarnation of God. Sita asked him to bring her a golden deer. A golden deer cannot be found in this entire Universe. Rama should have told His wife: "It is not a golden deer. It seems to be a golden deer but is an illusion." But did He do so? No. Is Rama a fool to run after a golden deer? No. But he acted thus at that point of time. Hardships are inevitable even to the Supreme God when He incarnates as a human being. Even we act so foolishly. Rama kept Lakshmana as the custodian of Sita and ran after the golden deer.But didn't Lakshmana also act so foolishly? The destiny is most powerful. Rama's running after a golden deer in order to fulfill Sita's desire,Lakshmana abandoning Sita inspite of having been assigned the duty of a custodian, Sita crossing the protective line of Lakshmana, enabled Ravana to abduct Sita. How can we judge who has blundered here? Who can change the lines of the forehead (destiny)?

Your thinking faculty is driven by destiny
It is the destiny that drives your thinking faculty. This is very well depicted in Ramayana. Kaikeyi loved Rama more than Bharata. However a day before coronation, her mind changed. We think that Kaikeyi was influenced by her servant Manthara. Where is the rule that Kaikeyi must change merely by listening to Manthara? There was a probability that Kaikeyi might not have changed even after listening to Manthara. Rama told Lakshmana: "Kaikeyi is thinking in accordance with our destiny. Till date Kaikeyi had immense love for us. However today her love turned into hatred and therefore she wants to send us to forest. Perhaps there is some work to be done with this body in the forest and it has changed the mind of Kaikeyi accordingly. Kaikeyi got this thought only in accordance with our destiny. Therefore have no anger or hatred for Kaikeyi. It is only God's will, that will be fulfilled. Let’s abide by the same.

Everything is but the play of destiny
Vali's consort Tara was very intelligent. She advised Vali not to fight against Sugriva for the second time. She said: "Just now Sugriva left after a humiliating defeat. But He is back immediately inviting you for a fight once again! I heard that these days Sugriva got acquainted with Rama and Lakshmana. Inspite of being defeated, His challenge for an immediate fight indicates that we have to act very cautiously now." Hence Tara advised Vali not to accept Sugriva's challenge for the second time. Vali replied: ' Oh! Tara, I accept that you are more intelligent than me. You are giving me a good advice. But I have a weakness. If anyone invites me for a fight, I cannot stay back at home. I cannot change my nature in this aspect. I would prefer either killing the enemy or being killed by the enemy but cannot stay back at home. Sugriva is my brother. Though I am capable enough to kill him, I am unable to get rid of my attachment for him. Though I may get a chance to kill him, I will only chase him but will not slay him down." But Tara replied: " You may not kill Sugriva but Sugriva has an external support. So you may get killed. Therefore you must not accept Sugriva's challenge for a fight." Vali said: "I heard that Rama is a gentleman and also very intelligent. I never had any enmity with Him. If Rama is a gentleman or God in a true sense, will He kill me? No. I can’t trust your words."However, it was Rama who slayed down Vali. How can we judge who was right here? We can only conclude it to be the play of destiny.

Your strength is insufficient to combat destiny
After Ravana was killed by Rama, Mandodari entered the battlefield. Lamenting over Ravana's death, she said in a deep distress: "Oh! Ravana, you are my husband regardless of being good or bad. You have been the most prosperous as well as one of the greatest kings. Oh! My dear husband, I can’t judge whether you brought Sita or a blazing fire to burn Lanka.Oh! Ravana, I gave you several good advices. But you never paid any attention. It is because 'The Destiny' is most powerful. The destiny pertaining to your body did not allow you to listen to my words. What could you do about it? Therefore Mandodari advised us: "Irrespective of your power and prosperity, your strength is insufficient to combat destiny."

"The Kingdom of heaven is within all of us" - (Dr.Mithin)

It was for quite sometime that I was trying hard to meet Sri Nannagaru. Because of poor health he was not coming to Hyderabad and work was not permitting me to go and meet him in Jinnuru. Finally one Saturday i called him and asked whether I could come and meet him in Jinnuru.

I heard him say "You may come!' in a charming way. So next day early morning I went towards Jinnuru

The Mountain Path had published an article of mine Thank You God which taught the meaning of life to be Thankful to God at all times.

As I clutched the book and traveled towards Jinnuru I understood why I was not able to meet him all these days. It was because it had been destined that I meet him with this book and show him the article.

I went to his room where he was applying ointment to his body. He looked at me and gestured at me happily to come and sit in a chair opposite to him. He smiled at me and expressed his happiness and asked me about my journey.

I replied to him and gave him the book with my article. He just glanced at the article and said and "this is Sharanagathi"

Next few minutes he read through the article smiling and nodding all the time. Once he finished he happily said " Its a very good article. I am very proud of you.'

I smiled. He asked me about my recent trip to Singapore and then asked me to wait outside where he would come.

I waited outside and saw some patients as Sri Nannagaru joined us. I have seen a very important facet of Sri Nannagaru regarding Patients. He would be very very concerned and would ask a lot of questions to me about their conditions and medications and their side effects. Once having asked me he would make it a point that I would communicate the same to the patients and also make double sure that the patients also understood the treatment and its side effects.

He was a wonderful Communicator!

After that he looked at me and said " How is your sadhana?"

I have had spiritual experiences recently which I could only attribute to Sri Nannagru's Grace.

"Without sadhana I am receiving your Grace" I replied truthfully.

He smiled and then after some small talk about Singapore and my parents he asked me to go and take rest in the ashram room of his and come in the afternoon after lunch.

One more thing about Sri Nannagaru is that he would be very particular that I take some tea or coffee when I visited his house.

In the afternoon I returned to meet him and sat beside him.

In a recent experience of mine in the early hours of waking I saw that the world was a thought and I was about to enter that thought. The world is nothing but a thought I felt. If I had no desire I would not enter the world and I would be in Peace I felt. But invariable I entered it and woke up. I narrated this incident to Sri Nannagaru and asked him its meaning.

He said " The world and body is not separate. Both are the same. They are nothing but Thought."

I asked "Is renunciation of thought...."

He nodded in the middle and said "Except Truth everything is Thought. It is called Brahmam. It is independent. If there is anything that you see in the world which is perceived as different to Brahmam it is a dream. It is asat. Not Sath(Truth). The Buddhists call the same Brahmam as Shunyam. Brahmam is the Ultimate Truth. Brahmam is Independent entity. The body itself is a thought...so also is the world. Desires are born as body. There no individuals. You see because you think yourself as individual 'I'. It is false 'I' and is imagination, Individual I is not your true nature.'

He paused and showed me some Muslims who had come to meet him.

"They are devotees of Allah" he said.

He gestured one lady to come forward and talked to her about Quran and other things relating to Islam.

The lady in the course of the conversation asked him "Do all people who follow different religions reach God?'

Sri Nannagaru replied " People call water by different names. Some call it jal some pani some call it tanni and some water. But its meaning is the same. Religions also are like that . All paths are true. There is no bearing of caste color or religion or country on the realization of Truth. Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is within us. Man seeks happiness. When man realizes happiness he gets unconcerned about gods and goddesses. As we identify ourselves with the body when we say 'I' so too we should naturally identify ourselves as the universal I when we refer to ourselves, then we attain peace and that peace results in Happiness. This should be realized either through the Gita, Quran or Bible. Tiruvannamalai is called Navadwarapuram. There are nine roads leading to it. Whatever road you take you will reach Tiruvannamalai. When Truth is realized the things of the senses appear distasteful. Attachments come when there is absence of renunciation."

Sri Nannagaru then talking about a recent death of a devotee said " All things are predetermined"

It was time for me to go. He looked at me and blessed me and said "The Kingdom of heaven is within all of us. Remember this always"

I saluted him and took my leave.