A calm Manthan on life, choice, and awareness By Tejash Shah
Introduction: A Question We All Carry Quietly
Is life already written, or do our choices truly matter?
This question is not new. It has echoed through Indian homes, scriptures, tea conversations, and silent moments for thousands of years. Yet, in today’s fast-moving, outcome-driven world, the confusion feels stronger than ever.
Destiny vs FreeWill was born from one such simple, honest conversation. Not in a classroom. Not in a temple. But between two friends, sitting quietly, asking the question most of us avoid confronting directly.
This book is not a debate. It is a gentle exploration.
Why I Wrote This Book
As an author, technopreneur, and long-time Vipassana meditator, I have spent decades observing how people live, decide, react, and suffer.
In business, we often blame markets.
In relationships, we blame people.
In life, we blame destiny.
But rarely do we pause and ask:
Where does destiny end and where does my choice begin?
This book exists to bring clarity to that exact boundary.
What Destiny Really Means (And What It Does Not)
Destiny is often misunderstood as a controlling force. In reality, destiny is simply the set of conditions that arrive without our permission.
- Birth and family
- Body and temperament
- Sudden events
- Unexpected challenges
- Timing of situations
Destiny sets the scene. Nothing more. It does not decide your response. It does not control your effort. It does not shape your inner world. That part belongs to you.
FreeWill: The Most Misused Power
Freewill is not about dramatic decisions.
It lives in the ordinary moments.
- How you react to stress
- How you respond to loss
- How you treat people
- How you handle discomfort
- How you act when nobody is watching
Most people say, “I had no choice.” In truth, they had a habit. And habits are nothing but repeated choices.
When FreeWill Slowly Becomes Destiny
One of the core ideas explored in the book is this simple cycle:
Destiny gives the situation → FreeWill chooses the response → The response creates the next situation
What we repeatedly choose today quietly becomes tomorrow’s destiny. Health, relationships, career paths, inner peace. None of these are accidents. They are accumulated responses. This understanding alone can change how you see your past and your future.
Lessons from Indian Wisdom, Made Simple
Indian philosophy never denied destiny. It also never denied effort.
The Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads, saints, and teachers like Osho all point to the same balance:
- Destiny defines the boundary
- Freewill defines movement within it
You cannot lift both legs at once. But you can choose which leg to lift. This book translates ancient wisdom into everyday language without diluting its depth.
Vipassana and the Inner World
Vipassana meditation plays a quiet but powerful role in this journey. It teaches one essential skill:
seeing reality as it is, not as the mind reacts to it
Pain may be destiny.
Suffering is optional.
Between sensation and reaction, there is a small space. That space is freewill. The more aware you become of it, the freer your life feels.
Who This Book Is For
This book is for you if you have ever wondered:
- Why do similar situations affect people differently?
- Why does effort sometimes work and sometimes fail?
- Why do habits feel stronger than intention?
- Why does life feel unfair even when we try our best?
It is especially relevant for seekers, professionals, entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone navigating uncertainty with responsibility.
What This Book Is Not
- It is not a motivational hype
- It is not religious preaching
- It is not philosophical jargon
- It is not about blaming yourself
It is about clarity. Calm clarity.
Official Book Website: Desktiny vs Freewill
A Thought to Carry With You
The Bhagavad Gita reminds us:
You have control over your actions, not over the results.
This single truth holds the essence of the entire book.
When destiny brings a situation, your role is not to predict the outcome.
Your role is to act with awareness, sincerity, and integrity.
Results will follow in their own time.
Final Reflection
Life is not controlled entirely by destiny.
Life is not controlled entirely by freewill.
Life is created at the meeting point of both.
Destiny gives the moment.
Freewill gives the meaning.
If this question has ever lived quietly inside you, this book is an invitation to sit with it calmly and see it clearly.
About the Author
Tejash Shah is an author, technopreneur, and Vipassana meditator with over two decades of experience in digital transformation, commerce, and human behavior. His writing blends lived experience, Indian wisdom, and practical clarity.
