Acharya Prashant addresses the notion of predestination and astrology, specifically regarding the prophecies surrounding the birth of Shri Buddha. He argues that nothing is predetermined and that human beings are not puppets. He explains that while many astrologers might make predictions, a single correct one does not prove that life is fixed. According to him, the Creator is fundamentally free, and therefore, the creation is also free. Predestination and astrology only apply to those who live like machines, governed by habits, conditioning, and social patterns. If a person's life is mechanical and repetitive, their future can be easily estimated, much like the path of a machine. However, for an individual living in awareness, freedom, and the Self, life is eternally new and unique. Such a person becomes unpredictable and beyond the scope of any astrological calculation. The speaker emphasizes that the Self is ever-fresh and cannot be bound by future patterns. He further clarifies that Shri Krishna does not teach in the Bhagavad Gita that everything is pre-written; rather, people often rely on hearsay instead of studying the scripture directly. Finally, he distinguishes between physical pain and mental suffering, noting that while a physical wound like bleeding continues during sleep, mental suffering often ceases, indicating that such pain is a product of the mind.
