Ever Increasing Nectar

18 April 2012--After a wonderful week of sharing the sublime science of Krishna consciousness we are now heading out to Lithuania and Russia for more of the same. The beauty of Krishna consciousness is that it never gets old or hackneyed. It just keeps getting better and better over time with no limit to how sweet or ecstatic it can be.

Distributing Prasadam to Damodar Das
Riga, Latvia-13 April 2012

Sankarshan Das Distributing Prasadam to Damodar Das, Riga

Answers by Citing the Vedic Version

Question: Are Pure Devotees Subject to Destiny?

Please tell me what destiny is. Is it the same as fate? Prabhupada once said that one cannot change one's destiny in a discussion with Hayagriva Das.

What role does fate, destiny or such subtle vibrations and all play in the life of a devotee? In this regard, Dasarath Maharaja is a pure devotee, surrendered to Lord Rama, but he was affected by the curse of the blind father of the boy who was killed by Dasarath Maharaja.

Are even pure devotees subject to all these factors?

Please clear my doubts Maharaja, for I wish to retort back to my father when he keeps saying," Everything is predestined". I want to dedicate my life for Krishna and Guru. And convince my dad that this is a right path. Please bless me to advance in Krishna Consciousness.

Your servant,
S. from Chennai

Answer: Pure Devotion Alters One's Destiny

Destiny and fate are the same thing.

From the material point of view, one's fate or destiny is unalterable because it is simply the result of one's pious and impious activities. But if one surrenders to Krishna his fate is completely transformed in the most amazing and wonderful way.

In other words, as long as one remains within the material energy by living a life based on sense gratification his fate is unalterable being strictly governed by the stringent law of karma.

But if one surrenders to Krishna, he is no longer under the influence of the material energy. Now his fate is specially arranged for Him by the mercy of Krishna in loving reciprocation with that devotee's love for Krishna.

As a pure devotee, Maharaja Dasarath was not subject to the law of karma. But for the sake of facilitating the special transcendental pastimes of Lord Ramacandra, Maharaja Dasarath was only apparently under the influence of destiny by taking a karmic reaction for accidently killing that boy.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

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