by

WHAT IS IDEAL…

Shakdal was a potter. He had blind faith in destiny. In each matter, he would talk about the role of the fate and tend to disregard action.
To confirm his above notion, once he went to Lord Mahavira and asked “My Lord it is ultimately the fate, isn’t it?”
Lord Mahavira kept quite. Shakadal put his question again, “What is ideal, the fate or action?”
Lord Mahavira said “If anyone break your earthen pots without any reason, or take away your money, or for that matter, misbehaves with your family members, What will you do?”
“I will not spare him. I will beat him,” said Shakdal in anger.
“Or will you keep silent considering the fate as supreme?”
“No, not at all”, the words came out of his mouth automatically.
“Then tell me. What is ideal – fate or action?” Lord further said, “Remember, it is the action which shapes the fate. The fate is as is the action.”
Shakdal’s doubt was removed. He now clearly understood the inter – relationship between action and fate.