This document discusses the concepts of free will and destiny from a Sikh perspective. It presents a story about a man named Dhanna Singh Malhi and reflects on how different events in his life were both within and outside of his control, and how he was able to use his free will to change his destiny through hard work and focusing on relationships. While some things are pre-determined, the discussion suggests that as Sikhs, we can overcome challenges and determine our own destinies by living according to ethical principles of service, justice, and unconditional love.

1. When Destiny Offers Her Hand
Reach Out and Grab It
By Meeta Kaur

2. My privilege and responsibility as a
Sikh-American writer
Freedom makes a huge requirement of
every human being. With freedom comes
responsibility. For the person who is
unwilling to grow up, the person who
does not want to carry his/her own
weight, this is a frightening prospect.
Eleanor Roosevelt

3. Our responsibility as Sikhs
Until the great mass of the people
shall be filled with the sense of
responsibility for each other’s
welfare, social justice can never be
attained.
Helen Keller

4. Questions
• Is there a relationship between free will and
destiny according to the Guru Granth Sahib
• How do free will and destiny work together in
our lives as Sikhs?
• Can free will impact pre-determined karma
that is in play?
• How does love shape our destinies as Sikhs?

5. Methodology for discussion
• We will engage in a story-telling exercise to
tease out the questions
• Received permission to tell this individual’s
story
• Reflect on patterns and the impact of those
patterns

6. Discussion of Reflections
• In transparency, I am looking at these
concepts through the lens of a story and my
own biases
• I invite the audience to participate in the
discussion during the Q and A so we can draw
a more comprehensive conclusion
• Every voice counts
• There is no right or wrong in these discussions

7. Story time
• Relax
• Close your eyes
• Take in the story like a breath of air

8. Dhanna Singh Malhi

9. Defining moments for Dhanna Singh
1. His mother passing at the age of 2 -- lost his
primary bond, was unaware of what a mother’s
love is
2. His father sending him to his Mama Ji’s home for
education at the age of 8 – groomed to be a
professional in the U.S.
3. Coming to America to practice medicine
4. A heart attack every 10 years – a chance to
pause and reflect at the way he was living (selfcreated)

10. Reflections on Dhanna Singh’s story
“O Nanak, only your actions shall go with you;
the consequences of your actions cannot be
erased.” Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Page 460
Reflections: Dhanna Singh decided to study 1618 hours a day building up his destiny to
become a doctor. Success begets success.

11. Reflections Continued
“O Nanak, only your actions shall go with you;
the consequences of your actions cannot be
erased.” Guru Arjan Dev Ji, pg 460
Reflection: When Dhanna Singh chose success
and money over developing his relationships
with his wife and children, his decisions caught
up with him in the form of heart attacks and his
karmic debt as a householder

12. Reflections Continued
“O Nanak, only your actions shall go with you;
the consequences of your actions cannot be
erased.” Guru Arjan Dev Ji, pg 460
Reflection: Again, Dhanna Singh chooses to
work equally as hard to reverse his situation
with his family members and works at his
relationships continuously non-stop for 5 years
rebuilding trust and respect

13. A different lens on the same story
Love is not an idea that a person may be taught or
given, we learn what love is through experience. -Wahe Guru Net
Reflection: To fulfill his duties as a Sikh, Dhanna
Singh had to learn what love is in the absence of
his parent’s love. Wahe Guru equipped him to
climb this learning curve and his free will allowed
him to keep making that choice continuously
changing his destiny with his family.

14. Reflection
Why was it important that Dhanna Singh learn
these virtues, learn the traits we need to love
unconditionally?
As Sikhs, I believe we are not only taught to love
our families unconditionally, but also love humanity
unconditionally. When we understand our duty,
our destiny as the ability to love and serve
humanity unconditionally, we can restore the vision
of the world the Gurus blueprinted 500 years ago.

15. Reflections
“According to one’s desires, one’s condition is
determined” (Guru Nanak Dev Ji, p.1342)
“That alone is a good deed, O Nanak, which is
done by one’s own free will” (Guru Angad Dev Ji,
p.787)

16. What seems like a contradiction
based on Dhanna Singh’s Narrative
“By one’s own actions, nothing can be done; destiny
was pre-determined from the very beginning. By great
good fortune, I meet my God, and then all pain of
separation departs” (Guru Arjan Dev Ji, p.135)
Dhanna Singh realized that his mother’s passing
shaped him, defined him, and he also realized that he
could use free will to change the destiny he had built
up from circumstances out of his control. We can
overcome anything.

17. Our destiny as Sikh Americans
In understanding that as Sikhs, we determine
our own destinies, we are primed to not only be
social justice advocates on behalf of our own
community, but also defend the the rights of
other minority communities around the
country/world.
We can pre-determine the destiny we hand to
our children starting now