Is destiny pre-determined or can we change it?

[Smt. Priyanka asked: Pādanamaskāram Swāmi! I have a question about nāḍī jyotiṣyam and whether the pre-determined future can change or not. Please forgive me if this type of question has already been asked before. I have heard and seen that some astrologers accurately predict a person’s past and future on short notice (in an hour), even though they have never met the candidate before. I have also seen that the sequence of events that happen in one's life are almost exactly like how they predicted. I fail to understand how this happens! Isn't a person's future dependant on the choices he/she made in the past and the current life? If everything is pre-determined, then are we here on this earth only to face the consequences of our actions in the previous birth? Or can the future change in this birth itself depending on actions of our current birth? At Your feet, Priyanka]

Swāmi replied: Swāmi Vivekananda said that you are the master of your destiny and this is correct. Scripture says that nobody can change a person’s fixed destiny (Lalātalikhitā rekhā...) and this is also correct. If you remain idle, without making any efforts, scripture is correct. But if you put forth hectic efforts to change your destiny, your destiny can be changed. Everything depends on your decision and your subsequent effort. Astrology belongs to the view of scripture and the spiritual path belongs to the view of Swāmi Vivekananda.

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