Life is a dance of choices, changes, and chances, and we must choose between relative dualities, where unforeseen and unexpected changes and chances often compel us to alter and adjust our earlier choices. Even choosing not to desire is a desire, just as remaining neutral is also a choice. So, let’s delve deeper into this life story, exploring why God has woven choices, changes, and chances into our path—guiding us to ultimately choose between the divine and the devil or perhaps to experience both in a rightful balance.

The above three truths reveal that choices determine our intent, changes prompt us to adjust to new conditions, and chances reveal our reaction to the unknown. Existence revolves around all three; a life of duality begins after we choose one of the two. Through constant life changes, we evolve, and if we do not take chances, we remain behind in the rat race of materialism.

As humans, we possess the most incredible power of choice, granting us self-governance and the ability to shape our life’s path. However, there are some choices that we cannot control, but mostly, we can, so we move on. We continually make decisions that shape our lives, taking the necessary steps to become who we aspire to be.

We always intend to choose the best path, but a fluke or coincidence can unexpectedly and for any reason considerably affect and influence our choices. Life is an interplay of three fundamental factors. The degree to which we are convinced and flexible in making our choices, along with the unpredictable changes that occur due to unforeseen circumstances, is a testament to the play of life.

The scientific reason for the above is provided by the Second Law of Thermodynamics, stating that energy vibrates in entropy, meaning disorderly, like how thoughts move randomly and recklessly here and there at any given time for its likes and dislikes to choose between this or that for that selfish – ‘me and mine.’ Furthermore, Spiritualism asserts that the mind can operate primarily in relative dualities—positive/negative, plus/minus, day/night, good/evil, and divine/devil—empowering the mind first to choose and then to engage with one of the two dual factors at any given moment. Here again, an interplay between skill and unpredictable circumstances can impede and impact our choices, underscoring how vulnerable we are to unforeseen changes and opportunities that may alter the outcome of any desired results.

Our mind is an uncontrollable processing instrument that creates and destroys, driven by the commands dictated by emotional desires to expand its Ego. It amasses more than it requires – selfishly and egoistically identifying and attaching to all it can accumulate to prove its superiority over other minds. Within each human mind, we have two minds; one plays the subconscious role of the devil in selfishness, which we refer to as the Ego, and the other is that superconscious, spiritually aware mind functioning through the soul in selflessness.

The ego mind is an electromagnetic flow of thoughts carrying information that is overpowered by the subconscious section in the lower consciousness. It cognitively vibrates in auto-mode on autopilot through its memory and intellect, experiencing the dualities of this or that, resulting in happiness or sadness; if the former appears, the shadow of the latter is never far behind. On the other hand, the soul represents the higher consciousness functioning spontaneously in non-duality in the present moment, intuitively and creatively, receiving information telepathically from the cosmic spirit.

According to neuroscientists, the subconscious mind accounts for over 95% of the mind, with the remaining portion operating from the conscious and superconscious sections. Since most of us are unaware of the soul and its role, the soul and spirit within the mind lie dormant unless spiritual practices awaken them. A stagnant soul is the reason why we are destroying Planet Earth with religious, self-centred, opportunistic wars and, of course, by causing ecological disasters.

We commonly notice that the ego mind is satisfied by being consistently dissatisfied and happy after seeing others unhappy, which is today’s dreadful situation. The answer to this abnormality lies in the over-functioning of the subconscious section, which is the selfish, material, desirous, and egoistic mind that chooses, identifies, amasses, and attaches to all it can acquire. In contrast, we have a minute contribution from the conscious and superconscious sections that stabilise and silence the unruly and emotionally desirous mind as much as possible, playing its role in checking and guiding the mind.

Returning to my subject, I would like to say that our choices define and determine our lives. However, uncontrollable changes in our circumstances may sometimes deter us from our chosen path, forcing us to deviate from our original course of action and compelling us to make new choices. Alternatively, luck, by chance, can create unexpected probabilities that may alter the outcomes of our options. While making our choices, these unforeseen changes and chances remind us that we are never in complete control of our circumstances. All three choices, changes, and chances intertwine, revealing the intensity of our knowledge, intelligence, stability, flexibility, and capability to evolve and transcend from material life towards the soul and the spirit. Since we are spiritual beings experiencing human life through our body and mind, we must learn how to awaken the soul, the third and most vital element, which is imperative for our peaceful existence.

From a spiritual perspective, we have the right to choose our path towards the divine or the devil, or, for that matter, choose the right balance between the material and the spiritual. We have that choice, but again, we must remember that old saying – ‘as you sow, so shall you reap.’ It means the choices you make today determine your tomorrow. It further implies that we need to be cautious while making desirable choices. They should conform to our righteous moral conscience and its consequences; otherwise, they lead to inner conflicts.

We should be responsible and accountable and be able to accept whatever consequences our choices unfold without making excuses, blaming others, or pointing fingers if they turn out to be unfavourable. From a spiritual view, choices provide the freedom to make decisions. Changes occur and are unavoidable; some may be within our control, while others may not. There are times when opportunities arise unexpectedly, reminding us of the divine’s role in guiding us through inner wisdom.

The biggest challenge in life is striking a balance between the material and the spiritual in a righteous manner. We are far more prone to tilt towards the material. We must remember that we are responsible for the destruction we choose, cause, and create through modern catastrophes, such as cyber warfare and the threat to ecosystems vital to human life. Furthermore, change is the only constant factor in life, for everything else within and around us is liable to change. Therefore, our choices must conform and evolve to transformative changes rather than destructive ones.

Humans possess infinite intelligence; we are responsible for choosing our path, leading us towards righteous living that fosters economic prosperity and gratifies our sensual desires. Through righteous choices in life, the soul awakens, expands, and allows the mind to transform and transcend towards higher consciousness.

Therefore, choices, changes, and chances entwine in the play of life. Our choices lead us down a particular path, but we also, at times, encounter unforeseen circumstances that cause us to change the options we had previously made. However, when such unexpected opportunities arise by chance in the random flow of life, they give us another chance to alter and reshape our lives, and all three become interconnected. I am trying to emphasise here that in human experiences, life is a combined flow of individual choices and ever-changing circumstances, within which random events or fate also emerge, determining that there are times when some results are beyond our control.

During my younger days, I dreamed of being a doctor and was admitted to a medical college. Unforeseen circumstances led me to reconsider my decision, ultimately prompting me to start a business. Later, despite succeeding in business, I came across a discourse given by a spiritual guru, Osho; his rebellious attitude impressed me, which altered my whole direction, causing me to devote all my energies to the subject of Spiritualism, for which I am grateful today.

The inherent power of choice within us is the highest among all living creatures, but it also empowers us to create or destroy the Earth. We are free to choose between good and evil and are responsible for our choices. However, there is chaos and uncertainty about the future; our minds function by choosing to destroy more than we create. Wars leading to the ecological devastation of our environment prove that we do not take responsibility for what we choose. People are choosing religion today in the name of God to curse and kill each other, presuming my faith and God are superior to yours.

Please do not forget that the evil we do also comes from our choices, and we often try to blame it on others. We neither accept responsibility nor are we prepared to bear its unfavourable consequences. In that escapism, while doing wrong, we try to justify one way or another. Further, the freedom to make choices has both advantages and disadvantages. Besides the benefits of increased productivity, enhanced motivation, and determination, making wrong decisions can lead to dissatisfaction and unhappiness rather than well-being.

Therefore, the power of choice has a significant role in shaping our lives. Its greatness lies in its ability to shape the unique individuality of every human, defining the level of our consciousness as we make choices during life’s journey. Every choice we make contributes to the building blocks of our self-development, enabling us to face challenges and turn them into opportunities for fulfilment. Conscious choices facilitate gradual development, promoting personal growth. Please remember that the power of choice enables us to shape our lives and is humanity’s divine gift to us.

NAMASTE