Today in class we learned about what differentiates us from others. We heard a talk by Swami Swaroopanada (Swamiji from Chinmaya Mission UK) via you tube on the topic "Conquering our destiny". Click here for link to Swamiji's talk. According to Swami Swaroopananda each of us has our own mental texture which is composed of our personality, our actions, and our choices. Another important highlight from class was whether we truly have control over our lives or not. But what are choices? Choices are options that allow us to change or alter the direction of our lives.
Another question was do we as individuals have control over our own lives or is everything predestined? Many of us argued that we don’t necessarily make choices for ourselves rather decisions that we make are influenced by choices that we made in the past. So, they aren’t necessarily choices considering that they are influenced or affected by other sources. Factors that don’t have control over, influences what you do have control over. If we are influenced by other sources then do we really have control? If we have bad influence, then our actions will result negatively also. This is why we should try to get good thoughts/ ideas from valid sources; in this way we can become a better person.
Some people act without thinking but why does this happen? the body reacts to the command from the mind based on the sensory stimulus, the mind is trained or helped by the intellect which acts like the filter based on actions learned. As long as the MIND and the INTELLECT work in sync following the Right values the actions will be successful and will happen smoothly.(Eg: we know that fire burns, so when we see a fire we are careful and do not try to touch it or are very cautious around it as the intellect which has learnt this has informed the mind which has listened to the intellect. )
- Rachna Ammanamanchi
