Accepting or Changing Destiny? It Turns Out Both Are the Way

Some people come to the temple and hear that a disciple of the Buddha must be content with their fate, accepting all adversity. They are told that peace of mind is enough. Yet others teach that we must strive upward, change our destiny, and progress without ceasing. These two teachings seem contradictory. So, which one holds the truth?

## Two Teachings That Seem Contradictory

In reality, both are part of the Buddha's teachings (Dharma). When we encounter suffering (dukkha), we learn to accept it so that our mind/heart may find peace. But when opportunities arise, we must make an effort to change and transform ourselves. Venerable Thich Chan Quang once said: "If you can accept suffering, you naturally cease to suffer. You suffer because you want to run away from that suffering."

However, if we only accept without striving upward, we become weak, lazy, and lose the ideal of enlightenment.

## Accepting Destiny: The Strength Found in Letting Go

Acceptance may sound passive, but it is actually a profound inner strength. When we face loss, betrayal, or dissatisfaction, believing in cause and effect (karmic law) helps us see that we are experiencing the results of past karma. With this understanding, afflictions (kleshas) diminish significantly. For example, if you are robbed of a significant sum of money, instead of regretting or getting angry, you might think: "This could be a lesson from old karma." Immediately, your heart feels lighter. Or, if a spouse has an affair, you suffer emotionally, but acceptance prevents lingering torment. The teacher explains: "The serene silence of the sage" is not the silence of the defeated weakling. It is the result of a soul well-trained. Enduring adversity is spiritual power and inner strength. Losing calmness is true weakness.

## Changing Destiny: The Will to Rise from Ordinary Being to Saint

Conversely, if we blindly accept everything, society stagnates, and we never achieve enlightenment. The Buddha was originally a human being who changed his destiny through a long journey: moving from delusion to wisdom, and from ego-clinging to non-self (anatta). We are advised to have the will to rise, viewing this path as a very long process. Those who set a deadline for realization within one lifetime are ambitious and superficial. A person with right view believes it takes countless lifetimes to complete the work. This attitude alone pleases the Buddhas.

## Why Can We Believe in Both?

Both approaches rely on the law of cause and effect (karmic law). Acceptance teaches humility by recognizing that all suffering is the fruit of past karma. Simultaneously, we know that new karma is created by present actions. To change our destiny, we must change the causes—by creating merit, living altruistically, and practicing cultivation. Through this, we can transform from ordinary beings into saints, and from selfishness into selflessness. These two attitudes are not opposites; they share the same foundation.

## Balancing Between Extremes

Buddhist practitioners need to maintain balance. Excessive acceptance leads to laziness and poverty of spirit; excessive striving nurtures ambition and cruelty. Venerable Chan Quang emphasizes: "Live for others, pay homage to the Buddha, and practice meditative concentration. These three merits naturally strengthen us, allowing us to remain calm amidst storms without forcing ourselves."

At the same time, we must maintain the will to practice, persisting on the path to becoming a saint in everyday life. This is the Middle Way.

Please do not choose just one extreme. Accept your destiny to find peace of mind, but also change your destiny to live more nobly. Knowing that everything arises from cause and effect (karmic law), we can feel light and determined at the same time. Practice daily, starting with the smallest things: accept a harsh word, and add one more wholesome action. Both nurture wisdom and bring us closer to enlightenment.