If we observe the people around us, we will notice people's lives are different. Some people are born with a silver spoon, endowed with wealth, life necessities and can have whatever they desire. But some are born into all kinds of miserable sufferings. We may all think that this is fate. Some think fate means that their relationships, marriage and career are meant to be. Then what does fate truly mean? Is it really like what people usually think: fate is permanent, controlled by God and cannot be changed? Or can it be changed? In this chapter, we will discuss the meaning of destiny from the Buddhist point of view.

Buddhism states that fate can be changed because fate is the consequences of interaction between cause and effect. If you understand the principle of laws of cause and effect, you can change your fate. For instance, say some one is born in a poor and remote area and if he wants to pursue further study or start up his own business, he will look for opportunities to leave the countryside and go into the city to fulfill that wish. Therefore, our fate can change with aspirations. Another example is that someone was supposed to suffer a short life because he has killed innocent beings in his previous lives; however, in his current life, he is kind and takes joy in helping others. He doesn't kill any lives and treat animals with love and care, then he can change his short-lived life and enjoys a long life.

In the Sutra of Consequence of Kind and Evil, the Buddha said the elegant appearance is the consequence of endurance and diligent work. Wealth is the consequence of generous donation and helping others. Poverty is the consequence of greed and miserliness. In other words, Buddhism regards that there is a cause to every consequence and vice versa. Nothing is based on pure luck or controlled by some higher force. This means that fate is in our own hands, or in a nutshell, we would be blamed for our own wrongdoings.

The law of cause and effect is prevalent in the universe. Everyone is equal and subject to this law. All our fame, social status, living environment is the consequence of our previous efforts, rather than nature's blessing. As the old saying goes, there is no born saints, meaning most of the well-respected saints and personage across history had earned their respects and acknowledge through their constant efforts to refine themselves and purify their minds. If we understand this law, we will not complain about the unfairness in the society and take a pro-active approach to change our fate.

Then some may ask, if the law of cause and effect is true, why some kind people who always help out others, live a very difficult life and cannot rest in peace at death? Because there are three different types of retribution based on the timing of it. What this means is that regardless of the nature of the act (i.e. good or bad), it can give rise to consequences in three difference time period, depending on the conditions:

First type presents retribution. This retribution comes almost immediately. For instance, we have helped someone we know. Then when we are in need of help, they offer to help us. This retribution is very evident.

Second type, the consequences of our acts, no matter good or bad, may not take place in our current life. But rather, they will bear fruit in our next life. As the proverb goes, “if you want to know your past lives, you can see its reflection in your current life; if you want to know your future life, you can deduct it from the actions of your current life.”

Third type, this is when the consequence of our kind deeds may not manifest itself in this life, or next life, or next-next life, but will ten lives, or hundred lives later. The time differences in these consequences result from the conditions of the retribution. For example, if you put a seed in three different places (condition), the growing time will vary. If the seed is planted in the soil, with the condition of sunlight, water and air, it will sprout in due time. However, if a seed is planted in a place with no sunlight or air, it may or may not sprout.

In our current society, people are not as kind and honest as before. Morality are violated and there are all kinds of chaos. Although there are laws and rules in place, some may still break the law because there are loopholes in the legal system. Therefore, from the Buddhism point of view, if we want to see a healthy, stable and harmonious society, the best way is to promote the law of cause and effect. For example, Good consequences will arise from kind deeds while bad consequences will result from bad acts. It is not that there is no retribution; given time and condition, it will manifest itself.

We want to educate and explain to our children and our family about these basic rules of morality. We should start from bettering ourselves and bettering our families, then the society. Once the society becomes more harmonious, the relationship between countries will get better. I firmly believe that once everyone understands properly the relationship between cause and effect, our homes will be safer and there is less war in the world.

People have their own fate, so do families and societies, and even countries. But fate is only the manifestation of the law of cause and effect and by no means stagnate. We can change our fate by understanding and abiding by this law. With our self-improvement and relentless efforts, we can accumulate wealth and get out of poverty; we can become knowledgeable scholars instead of being ignorant and incompetent; we will be well respected instead of being despised. Hence, the Buddhist view on fate is that our destiny lies in our own hands and we are responsible for our own wrongdoings. As the saying goes, we take care of our own stomach and also our life and death. Nobody is more reliable than ourselves when it comes to our own fate.