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Free-will | A
Jyotish Perspective
The question on the predestination and free will is vexed and it is hard to find a satisfactory
answer to this question. From time immemorial, the learned have debated over this, but the
question still stands as valid as it was before. One who is progressing in path of spirituality is
bound to ask this question at some part in this life. I have asked this to myself time and again not
only because I am an astrologer, but also because I am a spiritual aspirant and see the hand of
god in the entire creation. As I matured over the years, my understanding transformed.
I think this is one question, for which it is difficult to define a right answer. There will always be
two sides who can argue either way! Perhaps this depends on the viewpoint of the seeker! It
always makes me thing about the wave and particulate nature of sub-atomic particles such as
Photons. You always see what you want to see but you cant see both the properties
simultaneously.
What I am going write below is my own reflection on this topic and I cant vouch for its
accuracy. So dont base your understanding based on what I have written below, but reflect
on this and if needed ask a bonafide spiritual master.
Before deliberating on this subject further, I would like to ask few questions. What is meant by
free will? Is this the ability to do something that cant be predicted otherwise? If something can
be predicted, how can that be free? Prediction is possible if the forces acting on a object are
known and are judged. The question here is- how a object that behaves based on the action of
various forces be free? Even if it is free- then to what extent? I am trying to answer these
questions in my narration below!
It is important that predetermination must exist for Jyotish to work. If everything is random,
then how is it possible to predict? Since Jyotish does work, a logical inference is that
predetermination exists. Then the next logical question is- to what extent? Can Jyotish predict
everything from the natal chart? If Jyotish can predict from the natal chart, then where is the free
will? The free-will adds that element randomness in the whole picture that can make is
impossible to predict.
So an important premise is, while predetermination makes it possible to predict, the free-will
makes it impossible.
going to behave in a certain way and in that manner we also adapt our behavior. This is not only
true with human behavior but everything living being.
There is always an element of predictability based on the species, gender, race, caste, religion
and all those thing with which one can identify. Randomness will make it impossible for any two
people to interact as this will not let the individuals to understand and anticipate each others
behaviors.
So, how free are we? Are we not all conditioned? Dont we think and behave in certain
pattern? Can we be free from the pattern that gives us the element of predictability. Can we
move above all the preconditions that gives us a unique identity? That makes others perceive us
in a certain way? Can we rise above our identity? Can we do something that is completely
against our nature? If we cant, are we really free? Or we are just following the track in which we
were initiated at the time of birth in some social condition and as we grew up we reinforced our
identify and embraced the path more and more. Did we try to break free from the identify that
was given to us? If not, how free are we? Have we risen above the gender based traits i.e.,
masculinity vs. femininity? Have we risen above our learning that we imbibe from our
surroundings and society as a whole? If not, how free are we?
identification with the results and thus also grant freedom from the outcome (for which we must
take birth to experience). Such dispassionate action grants freedom mentally and breaks the
shackles that binds us from our past lives; which prod us to act in certain manner that is
consistent with the results acquired from the past life actions.
The concept of freedom is enlightening and empowering as this gives us the power to act to do
things which enlighten us and not bind us to this world. This also moves one closer and closer to
the final destination of liberation (from the cycles of life and death). This also gives hope that
there is a light at the end of the dark tunnel; that we are not doomed for ever into the quagmire of
darkness and misery.
Although there is freewill, the ability to exert is not the same in everyone. People with higher
spiritual evolution have relatively higher freedom to determine their action and ability craft their
future. Those who acknowledge the presence of a spiritual world and a divine force has higher
likelihood of given freedom to break-free from the past karma and also start moving in the path
to liberation.
depending on their spiritual evolution. For highly spiritually evolved soul, there is no current in
water and the person is able to boat in any direction in the water, going upstream or downstream
with his own will. However, for those who are less evolved, the current is very strong and pushes
them towards downstream till the time, they realize the truth and evolve.
The water current is nothing but the material instincts that bind us, that prods us to act in a
certain way. The instinct is strongest in Tamas Guna (ignorance), moderate in Rajas Guna
(passion) and least is Sattva Guna (knowledge).
While it is possible to become free as everyone in the world is given the root impulse of freedom,
the ability to exert freedom depends on the mode of ones nature. As one moves from Tamas>Rajas->Sattva, one gets more and more liberated. Finally the time comes when one is
completely free
If the Prasna indicate better combinations than the natal chart, this indicates the soul has
progressed forward in this birth till the moment of Prasna.
If the Prasna indicate adverse combinations than the natal chart, this indicates the soul
had regressed backward in this birth till the moment of Prasna.
If the Prasna neither indicate better nor adverse combinations, then the soul is just
continuing in the path it has been following from past.
Prasna Marga 1.39. The balance of good or bad Karma brought forward from the previous birth
is prarabdha, and it is the reading of this that goes under the name of Jataka or Astrology.
Prasna Marga 1.40. One undergoes the consequences of ones previous Karma from birth to
death and this can be known from his horoscope. Then what is the use of Prasna?
Prasna Marga 1.4142. Prasna reveals to us whether a man reaps the fruits of his deeds in his
previous birth or the fruits of his actions in this birth. Here a question arises. How can we
distinguish whether it is the result of our previous Karma or present Karma that is yielding its
result now?
Prasna Marga 1.43. If the horoscope has beneficial planetary patterns and the Prasna chart
malefic ones, then it is to be understood that the native is experiencing the fruits of evil Karma
done in this birth. If vice versa, then also the native is experiencing the effects of good Karma
done in this birth.
Prasna Marga 1.44. If the planetary patterns in the horoscope as well as in the Prasna chart are
similar, then a clever astrologer should divine that the native is experiencing the fruits of his past
Karma only.
So, while using Jyotish to predict from natal chart can be futile in the cases of souls who
have the ability to exert freedom, there is a way to decipher them using Prasna. Hence a
combination of Natal Chart and Prasna Chart can be used to predict everything at every
stage. The Prasna chart should be given more weightage in the cases of souls having higher
power to exert freedom.