Spiritual FAQs

Q. It is said that our destiny has already been written and we are totally under the control of three modes of nature. Not even a single leaf can move without Krishna’s will. So how is it that we become responsible for the sinful or pious activities that we perform? – Meenal

A. Our destiny is written based on our previous karmas. Now, if we continue to perform the sinful actions then accordingly, we will get the results in future. This way, we are responsible for our own sinful activities. We can not blame anyone. Best thing is akarma.
Bhagavad Gita 3.5:
na hi kaçcit kñaëam api
jätu tiñöhaty akarma-kåt
käryate hy avaçaù karma
sarvaù prakåti-jair guëaiù
TRANSLATION
Everyone is forced to act helplessly according to the qualities he has acquired from the modes of material nature; therefore no one can refrain from doing something, not even for a moment.
PURPORT
It is not a question of embodied life, but it is the nature of the soul to be always active. Without the presence of the spirit soul, the material body can not move. The body is only a dead vehicle to be worked by the spirit soul, which is always active and cannot stop even for a moment. As such, the spirit soul has to be engaged in the good work of Kåiñhëa consciousness, otherwise it will be engaged in occupations dictated by illusory energy. In contact with material energy, the spirit soul acquires material modes, and to purify the soul from such affinities, it is necessary to engage in the prescribed duties enjoined in the çästras. But if the soul is engaged in his natural function of Kåiñhëa consciousness, whatever he is able to do is good for him. The Çrémad-Bhägavatam (1.5.17) affirms this:
tyaktvä sva-dharmaà caraëämbujaà harer
bhajann apakvo ‘tha patet tato yadi
yatra kva väbhadram abhüd amuñya kià
ko värtha äpto ‘bhajatäà sva-dharmataù
“If someone takes to Kåiñhëa consciousness, even though he may not follow the prescribed duties in the çästras or execute the devotional service properly, and even though he may fall down from the standard, there is no loss or evil for him. But, if he carries out all the injunctions for purification in the çästras, what does it avail him if he is not Kåiñhëa conscious?” So, the purificatory process is necessary for reaching this point of Kåiñhëa consciousness. Therefore, sannyäsa, or any purificatory process, is to help reach the ultimate goal of becoming Kåiñhëa conscious, without which everything is considered a failure.
Also, BG 4 TEXT 18
karmaëy akarma yaù paçyed
akarmaëi ca karma yaù
sa buddhimän manuñyeñu
sa yuktaù kåtsna-karma-kåt
TRANSLATION
One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.
PURPORT
A person acting in Kåiñhëa consciousness is naturally free from the bonds of karma. His activities are all performed for Kåiñhëa; therefore he does not enjoy or suffer any of the effects of work. Consequently, he is intelligent in human society, even though he is engaged in all sorts of activities for Kåiñhëa. Akarma means without reaction to work. The impersonalist ceases fruitive activities out of fear, so that the resultant action may not be a stumbling block on the path of self-realization, but the personalist knows rightly his position as the eternal servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, he engages himself in the activities of Kåiñhëa consciousness. Because everything is done for Kåiñhëa, he enjoys only transcendental happiness in the discharge of this service. Those who are engaged in this process are known to be without desire for personal sense gratification. The sense of eternal servitorship to Kåiñhëa makes one immune to all sorts of reactionary elements of work.

So, we are responsible for our sinful or pious activities that we perform.