Fate is what I create, but destiny is what the heavens create.
Fate is shaped by my choices, while destiny is given from the moment of birth.
Unexpected misfortunes, unbelievable strokes of luck—these are destiny.
Fate is never achieved alone. It is formed through the interactions between me and those around me. When my world and another’s collide, fate begins to operate.
Some reject all fate and choose to hide.
They isolate themselves from the world, exhausted by life or wounded by their experiences.
But destiny has a way of pulling them back out into the world.
Or, conversely, destiny may forcibly confine those who once roamed freely.
From the moment we are born, we are given our own unique story.
Many people share similar stories; I call this “the synopsis of fate.”
This foundational outline cannot be changed—that is destiny.
However, how I write and shape the details of that story depends on my choices.
That is fate.
In Eastern philosophy, this is known as Saju (Four Pillars of Destiny) and Palja (Life Path).
Saju, the destiny written at birth, cannot be changed. But Palja, the path we walk, can be rewritten.
Karma and Inherited Memories
Science suggests that from the moment of birth, our DNA determines much of our lives.
This is the immutable story given by the universe, our destiny.
But there are those who defy it.
They are the ones who undergo “脱殼 (탈각, talgak),” the shedding of their shell.
They break free from their past selves and are reborn as something new.
Research shows that DNA carries not only genetic traits but also memories.
This idea connects closely with what we call karma.
We never witness our parents’ youth firsthand, yet at some point,
we look in the mirror and see their younger selves reflected in us.
I unknowingly repeat their actions, following a path I never consciously chose.
But the moment I recognize this pattern and choose to break free, I escape the weight of ancestral karma.
That is the path to finding my true self and creating my own fate.
Ultimately, we are not mere puppets controlled by our ancestors’ karma.
We must carve our own fate within the framework of destiny given to us by the heavens.
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