Free Will — The Most Powerful Weapon for Transformation
“My dear Krishna, I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.” (Bhagavad Gita 18.73)
Previous articles in the series:
1. Why the same event triggers different people differently?
2. Influence of “The Iron Chain” on a person’s Perception and Behaviour
3. Influence of “The Silver Chain” on a person’s Perception and Behaviour
4. Influence of “The Golden Chain” on a person’s Perception and Behaviour
5. Why the same event triggers different people differently? -2
It was the year 2005. I was in 9th standard. In the colony I used to stay, I had a friend named Radhika. One evening, while talking, she informed me that one of her close childhood friends recently joined the same school I was attending. “Her name is Swati”, she mentioned. I enquired little more and to my surprise, she was the same girl who joined my class 2 months back. Happily, I asked her to check with Swati if she would like to be my friend as well. She nodded positively and told that she will update me by the next evening. Next day, I spent almost the whole day observing Swati. I was a geek and she too was very intelligent, which added more to my excitement of having a friend like her in the same class. I was waiting eagerly for the evening. Finally, at 6 pm, I went to Radhika’s place to check for the response.
“You won’t be happy to hear”, she informed.
“It’s ok, please tell.”
“Useless person. That is how she described you.”
Imagine a person jumps into a river. If the flow is slow, it’s easy to come out with one’s own endeavours. But if the current is strong, external help is required to save the self, be it another human or an iron chain a person can hold onto. The latter situation is similar to a person trying to move out of the heavy pulls of a particular mode. If not easy, at least it’s not impossible. So, how to come out of the influence of the modes? Use your free will to accept a superior help. Every human being is endowed by God’s grace with this powerful weapon that can transform one’s life.
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got. If you want a different result, do something different.” -Henry Ford
Destiny presents before us situations and we have to make the choice by using our free will. Modes definitely will influence our perception and behaviour. And that’s when we need external help. If one desires to move to the mode of goodness or cling to the golden chain, meditation and association with people in that mode are the fastest routes for transformation. These two uplifts the consciousness of the person, ultimately uplifting the person himself. The golden chain may give bitter experience in the beginning, but the end holds the pleasant of the surprises. As they say, “No pain, no gain. This is the thumb rule of the game.” It may be painful, but its worth it.
“Don’t go through life, grow through life.” -Eric Butterworth
After hearing the response of Swati (in the above story), I was pulled heavily by anger and wanted to prove my superiority. But my friend asked me to step back, use my free will and asked me to go for a higher option, the option to grow! I decided to improve, to make my life more meaningful and useful without wasting time proving myself. I started associating with people in higher modes and started meditation. These two uplifted me miraculously and now, I am trying my best to serve society through my writings.
Even Arjuna, after hearing Bhagavad-gita (associating with Krishna through His words), decided to use his free will to obey the empowering instructions of Krishna. In the end, Arjuna emerged victoriously.
So, go ahead. Break out from the heavy pulls of the iron chain and the silver chain by associating with people in higher consciousness and by meditating, thereby transforming your inner world.
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My personal suggestion: Please read the Bhagavad Gita As It Is by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada for deeper insights.
