What does the fortune teller mean by fate? Is fate real?
This is a superstitious behavior and does not need to be understood too much. The development of everything has "fixed number" and "variable", and the fixed number has laws to follow, while the variable has no laws to follow; Fixed number contains variables, and variables also contain fixed numbers. The overall situation of both fixed numbers and variables remains unchanged.
Most Yi scholars in ancient and modern times do not distinguish between definite numbers and variables, which confuses this concept. "Fixed number" (law) can predict its development trajectory according to the regularity of things, while "change" (irregularity) cannot be accurately predicted because of impermanence and too many variable factors.
Extended data
Introduction to superstition:
The essential definition of superstition is to believe what you shouldn't believe. People's positions are different, and the content of suspected superstition is also different. According to Christianity, it is superstition to believe in other religions instead of Christianity. So are other religions. Buddhism is a sacred belief, so it is not superstition. In other words, the original meaning of superstition is "believing in the wrong things", not "believing in ecstasy".
There is no such thing as "superstitious science" or "scientific superstition". Superstition has no reason to believe, and science is precisely the place to pursue reason. Science makes the truth so clear that you don't believe it is stupid.
So "superstitious science" or "scientific superstition", like "Fiona Fang" or "square", is a self-contradictory and untenable concept. Only those who are limited by their education level and can't understand the scientific truth will regard science as mythical and incredible, and say such unreasonable words as "scientific superstition"