Your Destiny Depends on Your Choices
Many people who have had what are commonly called near-death experiences say that, at the brink between life and death, their entire lives replay before them like a movie. This suggests that a person’s life might be like a completed film, with every moment captured. If that’s true, those who can perceive the universe’s hidden truths could, in theory, foresee others’ destinies. In reality, they aren’t predicting so much as watching the unique “film” of the person seeking a reading and narrating the plot. Today, we’re sharing two articles related to fate:
A friend of mine enjoys using a card game for fortune-telling, and everyone he reads for thinks he’s uncannily accurate. He even uses the card values to deduce that someone’s life path hinges on a specific event from a certain year, leaving people stunned and calling him a genius.
Watching him become the center of attention at gatherings, surrounded by admirers, I felt a twinge of envy and wanted to learn a few tricks so I could bask in some of that glow. He played it mysterious and demanded a nice meal first. So I organized a dinner, and after a few plates of fish and beef and several bottles of beer, he actually revealed the secret behind his readings.
He said: “Fortune-telling is like reading. People only read the books that interest them; reading oneself is just about gaining recognition from one’s own heart. The trick to my method is this: I ask a question that gets the other person to search their own memory for a matching event. For example, if I draw the five of hearts, I’ll say, mysteriously: ‘Your life’s course was set by a choice you made five years ago.’ The person will then look for the choice they made five years prior—falling in love, getting married, earning a diploma, ending a relationship, getting sick, meeting someone important, starting a job, resigning, getting a driver’s license, failing an exam, and so on. Strangely enough, everyone can find a moment that shows how their present ties directly back to something from five years ago!”
Hearing his secret, I felt a sudden jolt. Thinking it over, I realized that behind his trick lies a truth deeper than card reading itself—every event we experience is connected to the whole of our lives.
On the road that led to today, we’ve made choices every single day. Like branching logic or decision trees in computer games, we press invisible buttons in our minds that shape our lives. Each press opens a new door, steering us toward different possibilities. As Zheng Jun sings: “Our joys and sorrows are just a thought away; heaven and hell are always by our side.”
It’s a bit like “virtual life” or “growth history” games on a computer. At every moment, players make yes-or-no choices, guiding the main character through everyday matters—what to wear, what to eat, what pet to raise, what books to read, what games to play—leading them to become either respected figures or crude bullies; either gentle, graceful princesses or cunning, wicked witches. In each choice of right or wrong, a life takes shape.
Unlike the immediate and obvious cause-and-effect of video games, our life choices often unfold across longer, subtler timelines; some effects don’t surface for decades. Because these influences are so slow and understated, people tend to overlook them. For example, everyone knows smoking is harmful, but because the harm isn’t instant—no one drops dead after a single puff—most people shrug it off.
What’s more unsettling is that we can’t clearly see the consequences of each choice. Which choice leads to good? Which to harm? Which to happiness? Which to suffering? Which is safe, and which is risky? Without clear answers, it’s easy to underestimate how much these choices matter.
Many things that seem trivial or accidental end up, in the larger pattern, determining the direction and outcome of our lives. Once we grasp this, shouldn’t we approach every detail and every choice with greater care and seriousness?
Life confronts us with choices constantly. What seems small can have far-reaching consequences once we decide. That’s why it’s crucial to know what standards we use when making decisions. If we consistently uphold positive, virtuous principles—true to our conscience and harmless to others—the impact will surely be beneficial. Next, we share a second article:
During the Qing Dynasty, a man from Zhejiang named Bao Xunquan was known for his integrity. In his youth he was a celebrated scholar, but he later abandoned the imperial examinations to work on criminal cases for more than a decade, no longer caring about the regular exams held in February and August.
During the Daoguang era, Bao Xunquan was appointed secretary to the magistrate of Gannan County in Jiangxi. Soon after he arrived, he encountered a theft case in which the previous magistrate had sentenced several accused to death. While reviewing the files, Bao began to have doubts. He petitioned the magistrate to reexamine the case, and upon investigation, the “thieves” turned out to be innocent civilians framed by local authorities. The magistrate intended to release them, but the judge, trying to dodge responsibility, did everything possible to block the decision and nearly succeeded. Bao fought hard for justice, ultimately clearing the civilians and bringing the false accusers to account.
In the first lunar month of the following year, Bao suddenly dreamed that his name appeared on a heavenly list. He dismissed it as just a dream. Two months later, he had the same dream again, and someone beside him said: “The heavenly list is set; you should hurry home and prepare for the exam!” When he woke, he still paid it little mind.
A day later, the magistrate urged him to return to sit for the exam. Puzzled, Bao said: “You’ve known me for years. I gave up the pursuit of rank and fame—you know that well. Why bring this up now?” The magistrate smiled and replied: “I know you’re not interested in fame. But last night, I seemed to visit a royal palace in a dream. An official led me down a corridor where a long list hung on the wall, with many names arranged by province. He said, ‘This is the autumn list for this subject.’ I looked carefully at the names and places and saw yours under Zhejiang. I wondered how you could be on it when you never sit for exams. The official said, ‘Because of the case he handled last year, when he cleared innocent civilians falsely accused of theft—heaven is rewarding him with success.’ I woke at once, so I came to persuade you!” What the magistrate described matched Bao’s own dream, though he still hesitated. Skilled at divination, the magistrate cast a lot and obtained a favorable sign, saying: “You will certainly pass this time. I’ll cover your travel expenses. How about it?” Bao had no choice but to pack up and head home.
During the exam, having been away from formal writing for so long, he couldn’t produce the required eight‑legged essay. In the hall, he wrote all three sections in free form (not in the prescribed eight‑legged style). The graders, seeing it didn’t conform, set his paper aside. Later, the chief examiner realized that the recommended papers lacked any free‑form writing, which was a flaw; such pieces were needed to meet the criteria. The examiners hurried to find Bao’s paper. On review, the chief examiner found that while it was free form, it had an ancient elegance, and he selected it—placing Bao in the very ranking that appeared in his dream.
In truth, nothing happens by chance; cause and effect exist objectively, independent of our wishes. Bao Xunquan’s blessings flowed from his integrity and fairness—he sought justice for the innocent and saved several lives—while those who plotted against him could not escape legal punishment. Heaven upholds justice, rewarding good and punishing evil, with clear retribution. Good deeds are rewarded to encourage virtue; evil deeds are punished to warn and awaken. Doing good and standing up for what’s right—taking responsibility for ourselves and others—is the truly wise way to live.