1. A general leads his smaller army into battle against a much larger enemy army and stops to pray at a temple for victory. 2. The general flips a coin and tells his troops their fate depends on whether it lands heads or tails, but both sides of the coin are actually heads. 3. After winning the battle, the general reveals the coin has two heads, showing that one's destiny is not predetermined but within one's own hands through their actions.

1. 'Fate' In Your Hands ... A Story To Ponder On

2. Once upon a time, there was a general who was leading his army into battle against an enemy ten times the size of his own.

3. Along the way to the battle field, the troops stopped by a small temple to pray for victory.

4. The general held up a coin and told his troops: I am going to implore the gods to help us crush our enemy.

5. If this coin lands with the heads on top, we’ll win. If it’s tails, we’ll lose. Our fate is in the hands of the gods. Let’s pray wholeheartedly.

6. After a short prayer, the general tossed the coin. It landed with the heads on top.

7. The troops were overjoyed and went into the battle with high spirit. Just as predicted, the smaller army won the battle.

8. The soldiers were exalted. One soldier remarked, “It’s good to have the gods on our side! No one can change what the gods have determined!” Another shouted, “Our destiny is predetermined by the gods!”

9. “ Really? Fate? Destiny?” the general laughed. The general showed his soldiers the coin – BOTH SIDES OF IT WERE HEADS! General

10. End of Story May The World Be Free From Wars Which Bring Untold Suffering To Many. With Metta, Bro. Oh Teik Bin For Reflections Click On

11. One’s destiny is not fixed or decided by the gods or ‘Fate’. One’s destiny lies within one’s own hands.

12. The Law of Cause and Effect reigns supreme – the present is conditioned to a good extent by the past.

13. The future is uncertain and not fixed – causes and conditions from the past and present do influence the future. What we do NOW is of utmost importance.

14. The outcome of a deed or action depends on various factors and conditions… one of the most important being one’s state of mind/attitude … concentration, mindfulness, confidence and other positive qualities of the mind.

15. ‘ IF WE THINK WE CAN, WE CAN’ is certainly a good attitude to cultivate. The End