Imagine you received a letter telling you exactly what your destiny was, what you were truly supposed to do with and during your life.  You’d probably experience gradations of two extreme reactions: (1) relief at having the burden of figuring out your life removed from your angst-ridden shoulders or (2) irritation mixed with incredulity that someone was trying to tell you what to do.

Before he received a letter from the Dalai Lama informing him that he was the reincarnation of  Za Rinpoche, “the Dharma King,” Ali was an ordinary 17-year old. He had grown up in a refugee camp in India and was trying to decide if he was going to become a professor of Tibetan literature because the two other options open to him–being a doctor or farmer–were unappealing.  Then, all of a sudden, the Dali Lama told him he was extraordinary, really extraordinary.

Many would think that someone with that kind of mission–if he or she chooses to accept it–would be free from having to make decisions or struggling to find the right path in life.  Actually, that was not the case. Even with his destiny handed to him in an international airmailed letter, Ali had to decide whether and how to embrace it. First off, Ali needed to decide whether to go to the monastery. Once there, Ali had to determine if he actually believed he was the reincarnation of Rinpoche, a belief which took him 4 years to embrace and accept.  Next, he made the choice to study and memorize ancient texts, which occupied 12 years of his life.

Rinpoche also needed to overcome some fears and broaden and reevaluate his preconceptions and stereotypes.  For example, Rinpoche was apprehensive of long bus rides and believed that if you weren’t a Buddhist you couldn’t be kind.  Nevertheless, after being coaxed by the abbot, Rinpoche unwillingly traveled to the United States and returned home a more enlightened man.  (See, even a divine being such as Rinpoche must journey to enlightenment!) He was less snobby, as well as more grounded and lively. In addition, he gained enough self-knowledge to turn down a job offer to teach at the monastery. Instead, Rinpoche chose to live in Phoenix, AZ.  

“What is the point of this?” you may be wondering.  Essentially, that even if you know your “destiny,” that doesn’t mean life will then be without choices and learning curves. Decisions still need to be made about what kind of person you want to be and how you want to live your life. You will still need to educate yourself, expose yourself to new situations, and address fears that might be holding you back.

Remember the Harry Potter books and the Sorting Hat?  The characters in the book are often frightened, nervous, excited, all of the above.  They have preconceived notions of which house they would prefer but know that the decision the Sorting Hat makes is final. What Harry finally comes to realize by the end of the series is that the Sorting Hat is reading their hearts not telling them who to be.  In finding your career path, there is much to be learned from both Rinpoche and Harry Potter. It is your gut, your heart, that helps you, but even when you are pointed in the right direction, life requires “tweaking” and choices need to be made.