for himself a future from which he cannot escape. When however, he
becomes more evolved and emancipated, he begins to resist following
his desires and strives, instead, to follow higher things. This
creates for him a better future and thus he becomes free in comparison
with his former slave state. Man is a slave to fate as long as he
is a slave to the desires of the earth plane. He is, however, free
to overcome lower things and thus rise to higher. When he does this
he ceases to create a painful future for himself and thus becomes
free.

There is, therefore, fate which is self created. It is necessary to
acknowledge this before we can proceed further. One who has not had
much experience of life or who has not been a close observer, may
deny that there is such a thing, but one who has had great changes
in his life, against which he has fought and struggled in vain, knows
that there is a purpose working behind the events of life, against
which even kings and mighty men are powerless. There come times in
man's life when he moves heaven and earth, figuratively speaking:
prays until he can pray no more: sacrifices, it may be, his money,
his health, his prospects, and does everything that is in the power
of a human being in a vain attempt to stave off a threatened disaster.
But, in spite of all his efforts, in spite of his cries to a pitiless
heaven, the relentless march of fate cannot be stayed. It moves
forward like a huge juggernaut and crushes his hopes, his dearest
idol, his very life itself or all that then makes his life worth
living--and leaves him desolate.

"If then," you may ask, "fate is so pitiless and so powerful, what
can be done with it and where does free-will enter into the matter?"
In reply it must be admitted at once that it is no use fighting fate.