THE DIVINE PLAN Are we a part of properly conceived, meticulously planned and brilliantly executed grand design? In other words, are we programmed by divinity? The universe is infinite and it contains crores and crores of stars, planets, satellites, asteroids, comets etc. in its mysterious womb. But irrespecive of this vastness and multiplicity, every being in the universe, (ie., small or big, animate or inanimate), is controlled by some strict code of discipline. It is this divine code of conduct that makes the stars shine, the planets rotate and revolve, and the mysterious comets make their regular routine visits through regular routes. This code of behaviour is applicable to the planet earth and its inhabitants also, as they are, as a whole, part and parcel of this gigantic operation called the universe or Brahmanda. Just like the divine laws which regulate and control the functioning of the heavenly bodies, there are some divine laws in the lower plane also. The span of life of living beings on earth is short, but by the mercy of the creator, the intervals between the two ends of birth and death, (ie., the period of life), is at the disposal of the living beings. Among the living beings, man is the most developed one, physically and mentally. as such, he is powerful and can do whatever he likes. As the uncontrolled free-will of the individual may upset the rhythm of the divine plan, the law of karma is enforced to limit the area of free-will. The law of karma is actually the law of cause and effect. The cause always ends in its effect, though the time may vary. Remember, it is the same creator who created the dinosaurs and destroyed them and we, it seems, are the new experiments of the nature which is actually unlimited time and space. In other words, there is a programminng and we are a significant part of it. Actions are done always through the physical organs by the instigation of the sense organs. And what instigates the sense organs? Nature! All the predictive systems are attempts of man to find the link which connects the presemt with the future. The astrological planets are not the astronotical planets and the twelve signs like Aries, Taurus etc. are not real. They are mere measurements of the zodiac which help us to locate the approximate positions of the planets in the sky. The astrology serves the purpose of a platform to awaken the sixth sense latent in every man.. The whole kingdom of astrology is built on the first and two chapters of the book. In other words, the book is an elaboration of the basic rules. Phaladeepika teaches one how to elaborate the rules and make predictions independantly.