Fate and Free Will

A subject too vast and deep like an ocean, Fate and free will keeps popping up in the mind frequently

.A couple of messages from a friend and a blog by another ,both brought up the subject over and

over again demanding my attention.

Which of the two wins?- fate or free will

What determines the winner?- strength of mind or situation

OR

do we oscillate between the two caught between the devil and the deep sea?

musing on these lines am reminded of "as flies to wanton boys are we to the Gods,they kill us for

their sports?"(King Lear,William Shakespeare).Do we merely enact the script penned by unseen and

directed by the invisible?..Nay.can't be 'cause guided by Intelligence or intuition we do act at our

own discretion at times.After all Creator provided us humans with ability to understand  the obvious

and hidden ,remember ,recollect and respond .Wikipedia defines free will as our ability to choose

between different possible courses of action;our judgemental skills to put it short. Yes, we gain

adequate or more knowledge on a matter by choice or accident .Or is it by will of God that such

revelations come our way? Whether by choice or Grace we receive certain input .After a brief period

of awareness if we are to be back to square one wiping off the acquired knowledge aren't we just

being driven by our damn fate?Does fate ultimately win over free will? If so , of what use is our

sense of discrimination ? aren't we ridiculing the Creator who bestowed upon us the ability of

volition?

Friends, reflect upon the above and revert with your musings please.

                                                                                                                   ....to be continued.

A couple of thought -provoking messages from a close friend prompts me to resume a long pending

activity-blogging.One of the messages goes thus:

"If you are weak,your thoughts will control your action.But if you are strong,you force actions to 

control your thoughts".But how to be strong?

That left me wondering about this chicken and egg vicious cycle...

A thought leads to planning by the mind which blossoms into action..;irrespective of it  being good

or bad we implement our  ideas through  corresponding actions.

This being the normal process,there are times when we do and then think..mostly when we err...and

 regret our actions as well.On such occasions, actions precede thoughts and its just the other way...

So, what is the right path?

Thus, if actions precede thought , such actions are likely to be hasty mistakes by a weak person..Is

my friend wrong then?

But what about certain actions ,prayer for instance,that gain control over the mind

 over a period of time with practice?;As good virtues practised  habitually cleanse the

thinking...Persistence is what makes it possible...But even to practice regularly  without lethargy we

need a strong will?

WELL THOUGHT OUT ACTIONS INDICATE STRONG MIND ;TO DEVELOP WHICH WE

NEED TO ACT WELL.

Here, "strong" is not to be confused with "right" or "wrong"..as even terrorists "think" well and

implement their thoughts well,unfortunately.

Can we discuss this friends?