Is it Choice or Chance that determines destiny? ?

Question

Though all my life I haven't experienced anything that I could say was pure destiny. Nothing. Everything was always my choice. But I want to believe there's destiny after all. Please write your stories: was there anything that felt like real destiny for you?

Answer 1

There is a reason we do not have an experience out side of self regarding destiny. Destiny is not predestination. We must choose our destiny.

P.22 - §2 Urantia( Earth) mortals can hardly hope to be perfect in the infinite sense, but it is entirely possible for human beings, starting out as they do on this planet, to attain the supernal and divine goal which the infinite God has set for mortal man; and when they do achieve this destiny, they will, in all that pertains to self-realization and mind attainment, be just as replete in their sphere of divine perfection as God himself is in his sphere of infinity and eternity. "

As this says it is in mind where we experience Destiny though spirit. It is that we are ego and not able to give credit to any thing out side of ego.

P.445 - §5 Spirit identification constitutes the secret of personal survival and determines the destiny of spiritual ascension. http://www.urantia.org/papers/paper40.ht...

Answer 2

it was CHOICE only which determine our destiny.

because CHANCE is only human's term on their ignorance about what has been happened to them according to God's CHOICEST for them.

Answer 3

i agree with what you say, but its also about opportunity- like the children in africa are trapped in a poverty cycle that they cant get out of because of their country.. if they had opportunity to got out- that would then change their lives forever

:)

Answer 4

I believe it's both in their own measure.

For example:

CHOICE;

Right out of High School, I was supposed to join the military and when I got out, become a police officer.

I took the tests and was just about to sign my name on the dotted line when the recruiting sergeant asked if I had any relatives in law enforcement. Turns out my brother had arrested him for drunk driving (Early 80's before M.A.D.D.).

I decided to go to school in Arizona instead.

CHANCE;

In the years that followed, I ended up working in an office because a friend was in bad need of help and I happened to be out of work at that time. where I met a girl who took my breath away. We dated for a few months but eventually ended up going our separate ways. I never forgot her. That was 1993.

I dated many women since, but none had ever held my heart the way SHE did, thus I never found reason to marry.

In 2006, we accidentally bumped into each and today, I can say we have been married for 2 years. We both swore to never let each other go again.

So, by CHOICE, my destiny was altered yet by CHANCE, I ended up meeting the one woman I would find to grow old with.

Would I have met somebody else like her had I gone into the military??? Maybe, but I think it would be doubtful. My wife is the one and only reason why I believe in a soul-mates.

Answer 5

Choice!  We all have 'choice' to choose God's purpose or our own.  If we 'choose' our own, we live by chance.  If we 'choose' God's, we have destiny.  It is your "choice"! :D

Answer 6

I agree. Yet, choice IS destiny. Think of where you'd be had you made one choice over another.  

Answer 7

i think it's a mix of both.  It was my choice to date the man who was to become my husband, but it was chance that we were at the same party.  

Answer 8

The term destiny is the problem.

Our universe has a probabilistic quality that is intrinsic.

Quantum mechanics has totally redefined our concepts about time, determinism, and causality.

See the delayed choice quantum eraser experiment.

Answer 9

i believe we are predestined to succeed, but our personal choices  determine our destiny.  often things that are lined up and presented to us are dismissed, for whatever reason, and that alters our destiny.  i think our choice to be slothful, critical, uncertain, premature, and ultimately our attitude and perception does not determine our destiny but can determine the outcome of our destiny.  

Answer 10

When we say "destiny" played a role in our life, we are implying that we have no choice where our life takes us...that we are bound to follow a path based on a predetermined plan, that we have no free will.

And if that is the case, what does destiny say for those who end up as convicts, drug abusers, and high-school drop outs making minimum wage and not a pot to p**s in?

Are we to assume - this was their predetermined life plan? That regardless of their efforts - this was all they were going to be?

This frame of thought is what traps people in their misery.  I knew someone who thought their addiction to drugs - was their destiny. Pretty darn crazy if you ask me.

To assume it was destiny that made ones life a hot steaming pile is escapism from reality, from responsibility, accountability!

We are the makers of our reality. The choices we make effects our future. There is an immediate pay out and then he dividends.

"Destiny" is a scapegoat

Answer 11

I believe it is both.  We are given problems that are chance and then it is always our choice as to how we react to them.  An example of this has always made me feel good:  A father is running late to work and his daughter spills his coffee on him during breakfast he then yells and screams at her for being clumsy and irresponsible.  He yells for 5 min about how horrible this is and he is already late.  Then his daughter starts crying and runs to her room.  His wife then starts to yell at him for being mean to their daughter and she tells him to be more kind to the kids.  The husband and wife then get into a 15 minute argument about many things including how he is to the kids.  Then he has to go upstairs to change his coffee filled clothing.  He changes while listening to his wife comfort his daughter.  He then goes into her room and says stop crying and go to school.  The child leaves the house in a state of sadness and low self-esteem.  Then the husband and wife continue the argument for 10 more minutes.  The husband finally leaves the house without breakfast or coffee and is in a horrible mood when he gets to work.  He is now 45 min late instead of 10 because of a huge traffic jam.  He could have said, " It's ok I'll change quickly. "  Grab a fresh coffee and head to work being 5 min late.  Chance or Choice.  He then gets fired 3 months later for being late and difficult to work with ETC and on and on...

Answer 12

Both, and many other contributions. I was listening to a famous American Buddhist scholar state “the death and destruction caused by the Tsunami, "Was karma." A simple answer and a great sound bite to a complex question, but to say the reason behind this tragic event was simply karma appears glib and indifferent.

I've never found the cause of anything in Buddhism to be just one thing. Saying the reason for a complex chain of events is the result of one action-- whether it's God, sin, destiny, fate, or karma-- doesn't seem like a viable option for a Buddhist. Buddhist teachings is non-theistic and lacks a first cause. I admit some Buddhists feel karma can replace God as a first cause, because Buddhism has a moral code and lacks a divine law giver... But is it fair to say that a Tsunami is the moral consequence of unskillful intention, speech and action?

The Buddha was clear on this. We lack a realistic world view because of lust, greed, hatred and delusion. Science can add some clarity and meaning, but the Buddha warned us about this world of ours (samsara) being unsatisfactory, it's the place where birth, death and change occur. We experience pain because we have a body/mind, and suffer because of desire and impermanence. Sickness, injury, aging and death are simply the signs of flux in an insufferable world.

http://www.blia.org/english/publications... a good read

During a momentous battle, a Japanese general  decided to attack even though his army was greatly outnumbered. He was confident they would win, but his men were filled with doubt. On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the men, the general took out a coin and said, "I shall now toss this coin. If it is heads, we shall win. If tails, we shall lose. Destiny will now reveal itself."

He threw the coin into the air and all watched intently as it landed. It was heads. The soldiers were so overjoyed and filled with confidence that they vigorously attacked the enemy and were victorious. After the battle, a lieutenant remarked to the general, "No one can change destiny."

“Quite right," the general replied as he showed the lieutenant the coin, which had heads on both sides

Answer 13

You choose what you are destined to choose. There is no chance, no free will, no options. But like Star Wars, we still get excited about the outcome.

Answer 14

choice and God

Answer 15

natural laws entirely out of your control determine your destiny.

Answer 16

...choice by planning...

...chance by going with the flow...

...im happy content and living another day...

...thanks for asking...

Answer 17

theres no such thing honestly,just live life as if u didnt know what destiny was,nothing is controlling your life except you....and chuck norris

Answer 18

No - I believe that I am in control of my life but what you really need is to watch the movie Serendipity with John Cusak and - I forget her name - but it is a really good movie about fate