(215) Can we change our destiny?

By Janet Shin

An awkward truth about saju is that it is often mentioned as “human’s lethargy.” It must be a great frustration that humans cannot take the lead in their lives, considering they have been the main driving force in the progress of civilization. We can easily become feckless blaming ascribed destiny for failure under saju’s reasoning.

We are all given four pillars or eight letters of destiny from birth, according to Oriental philosophy. And we cannot alter them. The eight letters, or “palja” in Korean, last throughout one’s life from birth to death without transition. This fatalism has caused pusillanimity and passivity for those who experienced continuous failure and found it impossible to elevate their social status.

Many scholars have studied saju. By digging into it, they have endeavored to know their lives. Their major concern was to improve their destiny but ended up realizing that they cannot correct their saju palja. After a lengthy period of study, they concluded that humans would rather conform to palja than resist. It is contradictory to the Western philosophy to struggle and conquer the nature whereas the Eastern way of thinking is to be agreeable to the universal environment.

As people accumulated success stories, it yielded an attitude to refuse the teaching of saju and seek other ways such as positive approaches to enhance our life. Like inventor Thomas Edison’s famous aphorism, “Genius is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration,” people wanted to rely on other determinants to upgrade the quality of life, especially on what they can do. For this reason, feng shui has fascinated many people as it looked more proactive to ameliorate the living environment.

Meanwhile, some fraudulent fortune tellers have also devised ideas to propose almighty saju readings. It sounds very tempting. They even mix in shamanism and charms, which cost more than just saju readings. You may notice advertisements for fortune telling through telephone counseling, Internet services or face to face meetings, saying that they can improve your destiny. If you meet them, being deluded with either honeyed words or dreadful warnings, you should just pay them the specified fee and get out. Their knowledge is so shallow that they may explain just the number of elements in your saju with god and devil letters.

In the Orient, the five key factors to reach a successful life are given destiny, fortune, face or physiognomy and feng shui, good deeds and studying or effort.

Good deeds and effort are inexorable values, believed both in the East and West. Physiognomy and feng shui have also attracted many people, as they confirm the trustful virtue of humans’ efforts.

I often ask my audience in face reading lectures, “Is it our face that affects success or is it success that changes our face?” The traditional understanding may be the former. In reality, many people answer the latter is the case, nowadays.

A revered politician, Kim Gu, also known as an educator and leader of a Korean independence movement against the Japanese occupation, studied physiognomy hoping to raise his status. However, he reached the conclusion that his face would not bring him success. Instead of being despondent, he braced himself to cultivate his mind and behavior. Although he lived a rough life, he indeed became one of the most respectful figures in Korean history. It is undeniable how crucial effort is for one’s success.

Then, why has a given destiny been set in the first and second place to make a successful life? What is a legitimate approach to cope with a saju reading? One may assert that knowing our saju means we appreciate our life and it is the best circumstance to lead a happy life. Others may grumble if we cannot alter our destiny, how can we circumvent misfortune and life would become merciless.

I dare to say it is incomparable to confront life recognizing given destiny. Mental preparation about coming fortune makes a big difference. Those who know their saju, what generated their present and what will happen in the future, are more receptive and show affirmative attitudes toward the life and people around them. I encourage people to know more about their destiny and clear the clouds in their life.

Information: Are you interested in learning more about the ancient Chinese teaching about the “Four Pillars of Destiny”? For further information, visit Janet’s website at www.fourpillarskorea.com, contact her at 010-5414-7461 or email janetshin@hotmail.com.

The writer is the president of the Heavenly Garden, a saju research center in Korea, and the author of “Learning Four Pillars.” For further information, visit Janet’s website at www.fourpillarskorea.com or contact her at 010-5414-7461 or email janetshin@hotmail.com.