The other precious teaching that Mudaliar has given us is the answer to the age old confusion of every spiritual seeker about destiny and free will. Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism and other eastern religions generally believe in destiny. You are now a woman because you were destined to be a woman, not because you have chosen it. That is destiny. Whether you are wealthy or poor is destiny. But if everything is destined, then why should we do any spiritual sadhana at all? This was a dialogue between Mudaliar and Bhagavan one day: “I can understand, Bhagavan, that the external factors in a man’s life such as his nationality, family, profession, marriage, death etc., are all predestined according to his karma. But, can it be that his entire life down to the minutest detail is already predetermined? Now, for instance, Bhagavan, I have put this fan in my hand down on the floor. Is this also already predestined?” Bhagavan replied very firmly, “Certainly. Whatever this body is to do and whatever experiences it has to pass through is already determined when it comes into existence.”
Mudaliar did not stop. He put forth further questions: “What becomes then of man’s freedom and responsibility for his actions?” Bhagavan, looking graciously at Mudaliar answered, “The only freedom man
has, is to strive for and acquire jnana, wisdom, which will enable him not to identify himself with the body. Man is free to free himself from body identification and that is the only freedom he has. Identified with the body, man has no freedom from destiny at all. The body will go through all actions already enjoined to it to be done.” (Just the thought, “I do not identify with the body,” is not enough, because it is merely another thought. This is why we have to do sadhana. To cut off our identification with the body, we must have jnana by being steady in the Heart.)
Devotees and seekers often talked about the importance of the Arunachala hill, going around it, and staying in its vicinity. At various times, Mudaliar asked Bhagavan the significance of going around the hill.