user14288: Are only stream-entrants destined to attain Nibbana?
I don't know whether it is possible to be destined to attain Nibbana more than 7 lives beforehand. 
Is it not possible to be destined to attain Nibbana more than 7 lives beforehand ?

user13992: First off, although determinism was established by the Greek philosophers, during the 7th and 6th centuries BC, so around the life time of the historical Buddha, it is unlikely that this Greek concept was known in Northern India during that era. There is no direct reference to determinism in the original canon. The same goes for "free will", which is a Judeo-Christian concept. You are, as it were, looking at the concept of karma and rebirth through western spectacles.
The Buddhist concepts of karma and rebirth are heavily influenced by Hinduism, the predominant cosmology in Northern India during the Buddha's lifetime. As the concepts developed in Buddhism, in many lineages they were not taken literally anymore. The 6 realms of reincarnation were taken to mean the changing state of mind a person goes through daily (e.g. anger, hunger, delight,...). In Nichiren, this is called "Three thousand realms in a single moment of life".
Lastly, on the concept of Dukkha, can be translated as "suffering", but is also translated as "uneasy, uncomfortable, unpleasant, difficult, causing sadness". It refers primarily to the unsatisfactoriness of daily life caused by the five Skandhas, not necessarily to a "judgement day" eternal type of suffering as conceived in Christianity.

user254: Determinism is true for stream entrants e.g Attainment of nibbana within 7 lives and definitely within 7 lives etc. So why not for others who aren't stream entrants?
One reason may be that a stream-entrant sees the dhamma properly, and has "noble virtue" (ariya sila) -- and therefore can't (or won't) slip back into samsara nor be reborn into a lower destination (i.e lower than human, e.g. animal or ghost or hell).
I think the premise is that both of these (i.e. right view and noble virtue) are necessary for liberation.
I'm not sure where the "7 lives" comes from, perhaps it's e.g. AN 3.88 ...

If they don’t penetrate so far, with the ending of three fetters, they have at most seven rebirths. They will transmigrate at most seven times among gods and humans and then make an end of suffering.
Taṃ vā pana anabhisambhavaṃ appaṭivijjhaṃ tiṇṇaṃ saṃyojanānaṃ parikkhayā sattakkhattuparamo hoti, sattakkhattuparamaṃ deve ca manusse ca sandhāvitvā saṃsaritvā dukkhassantaṃ karoti.

... or something similar in SN 13.2.
Some people, or at least one person i.e. here, is of the view that sattakkhattuparamaṃ is referring to "seven more fetters" (as stream entrants have abandoned the first 3 of 10 fetters), rather than "seven more lives".
I don't see how to be sure of what sattakkhattuparamaṃ means -- translators e.g. Ven. Sujato and Thanissaro Bhikkhu say "lives" or "lifetimes" -- but "fetters" would make sense too, in context.
I might end up suffering severely in the next life
Perhaps ... isn't it true that anyone unenlightened or only partially enlightened isn't immune from suffering?
I think though that in a partially enlightened person, "the path leading to the cessation of suffering" is seen and is being developed.
Perhaps too your perspective changes with stream entry, which the abandoning of "identity-view" and vicikicchā.
In fact all my striving might end up being completely forgotten and eradicated and I might end up being extremely ignorant forever and suffering forever (due to "free will"), whereas someone who had no interest in the Buddha and never does might end up suffering less overall due to "free will".
I don't know what "free will" doctrine you're referring to.
You seem to be comparing people ("I strive and might suffer" versus "they have no interest and might suffer less").
That kind of comparison might not be skilful -- I think it's a kind of comparison which the brahmaviharas are meant to help you to avoid.
There is one form of comparison (or "conceit") that is said to be skilful, i.e. "That person is progressing toward enlightenment, if I practice as they do then I will too".
Then it's as if for non-stream entrants there is no free will
Maybe avoid extreme views. Maybe "everything is random" is one extremity, "everything is under one's self-control" is another extremity, and both wrong views.
Speaking of "streams", perhaps an analogy might be taking a boat across a stream -- you don't control the stream (though you may observe it), but if you're skilful and diligent, well taught, and have a good boat, then you may cross it.

user16489: 
Why aren't any non-stream-entrants destined to attain Nibbana?

Stream Entrant means, he has understood very clearly what's the issue with this world (pancca-upadanaskanda) and has seen and understood from his own life. After he has that knowledge (with the understanding) he will gradually (can be instantly depend on how wise he is) attain Nibbana. So without knowing the issue no one can attain Nibbana. It's like only when you understand how to swim (or ride a bicycle) you just can swim ( or ride). Just because you take lessons you can't swim or ride, you have to experience it by your self.

I don't know whether it is possible to be destined to attain Nibbana
  more than 7 lives beforehand. It isn't possible to be destined to attain Nibbana more than 7 lives beforehand (?).

Many interpretations around this. 

The seven represents rest of the phala and marga (Stream-enterer, path to Once-returner, Once-returner, path to Non-returner, Non-returner, path to Arahant, Arahant).
The rest of the fetters (after being a stream enterer, he has dropped first 3 fetters out of 10. So 7 rest to be dropped as well). 

With all these, it's bit hard to say this is about 7 lives (births). Since above are bit more logical and that sense, this can happens in the same birth as well. If we think about Buddha's time this makes more sense. Because there are many who attain Nibbana in the same life. Anyway I'm not sure which is right.

user43: Say, you wanted to lose weight and stay healthy. If you have no idea about Calories, Carbs, Fat, and Exercise - you may spend years randomly trying all types of foods, fasting, etc. - your weight going up and down endlessly. But once you get a clear idea of the science behind the body weight, you start eating healthy and exercising. Then you can draw a burn-down chart of weight by day and see how fast you're moving. At this point you can more or less precisely predict how long it will take you to reach your target weight. So it gets rather "deterministic" for you (wrong use of the word but I will go with you here). While for the people who are on a random diet based on their cravings and dislikes, the weight loss is pretty much never going to happen, because they don't have a methodical system in place that creates rational causes leading in the right direction.
Similarly, with stream entry. You understand "wrongness" (dukkha), the way it arises from conflict between "is" and "should", and the behaviors leading to conflict. You also understand "peace", the way it arises from the cessation of conflict, and the behaviors leading to no-conflict. Once you clearly see that, you can act accordingly. Once you act accordingly, it can be known that you will finish the process in finite time (seven lives being a figure of speech).
It's really simple, no need to over-complicate it. 

14288: <p>Are only stream-entrants destined to attain Nibbana?</p>

<p>I don't know whether it is possible to be destined to attain Nibbana more than 7 lives beforehand. </p>

<p>Is it not possible to be destined to attain Nibbana more than 7 lives beforehand ?</p>
 13992: <p>First off, although determinism was established by the Greek philosophers, during the 7th and 6th centuries BC, so around the life time of the historical Buddha, it is unlikely that this Greek concept was known in Northern India during that era. There is no direct reference to determinism in the original canon. The same goes for "free will", which is a Judeo-Christian concept. You are, as it were, looking at the concept of karma and rebirth through western spectacles.</p>

<p>The Buddhist concepts of karma and rebirth are heavily influenced by Hinduism, the predominant cosmology in Northern India during the Buddha's lifetime. As the concepts developed in Buddhism, in many lineages they were not taken literally anymore. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra_(Buddhism)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">6 realms of reincarnation</a> were taken to mean the changing state of mind a person goes through daily (e.g. anger, hunger, delight,...). In Nichiren, this is called "Three thousand realms in a single moment of life".</p>

<p>Lastly, on the concept of Dukkha, can be translated as "suffering", but is also translated as "uneasy, uncomfortable, unpleasant, difficult, causing sadness". It refers primarily to the unsatisfactoriness of daily life caused by the five <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skandha" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Skandhas</a>, not necessarily to a "judgement day" eternal type of suffering as conceived in Christianity.</p>
 254: <p><strong>Determinism is true for stream entrants e.g Attainment of nibbana within 7 lives and definitely within 7 lives etc. So why not for others who aren't stream entrants?</strong></p>
<p>One reason may be that a stream-entrant sees the dhamma properly, and has &quot;noble virtue&quot; (<em>ariya sila</em>) -- and therefore can't (or won't) slip back into samsara nor be reborn into a lower destination (i.e lower than human, e.g. animal or ghost or hell).</p>
<p>I think the premise is that both of these (i.e. right view and noble virtue) are necessary for liberation.</p>
<p>I'm not sure where the &quot;7 lives&quot; comes from, perhaps it's e.g. <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an3.88/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 3.88</a> ...</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If they don’t penetrate so far, with the ending of three fetters, they have at most seven rebirths. They will <strong>transmigrate at most seven times</strong> among gods and humans and then make an end of suffering.</p>
<p><em>Taṃ vā pana anabhisambhavaṃ appaṭivijjhaṃ tiṇṇaṃ saṃyojanānaṃ parikkhayā sattakkhattuparamo hoti, <strong>sattakkhattuparamaṃ</strong> deve ca manusse ca sandhāvitvā saṃsaritvā dukkhassantaṃ karoti</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>... or something similar in <a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn13.2/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 13.2</a>.</p>
<p>Some people, or at least one person i.e. <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/20767/254">here</a>, is of the view that <em>sattakkhattuparamaṃ</em> is referring to &quot;seven more fetters&quot; (as stream entrants have abandoned the first 3 of 10 fetters), rather than &quot;seven more lives&quot;.
I don't see how to be sure of what <em>sattakkhattuparamaṃ</em> means -- translators e.g. Ven. Sujato and Thanissaro Bhikkhu say &quot;lives&quot; or &quot;lifetimes&quot; -- but &quot;fetters&quot; would make sense too, in context.</p>
<p><strong>I might end up suffering severely in the next life</strong></p>
<p>Perhaps ... isn't it true that anyone unenlightened or only partially enlightened isn't immune from suffering?</p>
<p>I think though that in a partially enlightened person, &quot;the path leading to the cessation of suffering&quot; is seen and is being developed.</p>
<p>Perhaps too your perspective changes with stream entry, which the abandoning of &quot;identity-view&quot; and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicikitsa" rel="nofollow noreferrer">vicikicchā</a>.</p>
<p><strong>In fact all my striving might end up being completely forgotten and eradicated and I might end up being extremely ignorant forever and suffering forever (due to &quot;free will&quot;), whereas someone who had no interest in the Buddha and never does might end up suffering less overall due to &quot;free will&quot;.</strong></p>
<p>I don't know what &quot;free will&quot; doctrine you're referring to.</p>
<p>You seem to be comparing people (&quot;I strive and might suffer&quot; versus &quot;they have no interest and might suffer less&quot;).</p>
<p>That kind of comparison might not be skilful -- I think it's a kind of comparison which the <em>brahmaviharas</em> are meant to help you to avoid.</p>
<p>There is one form of comparison (or &quot;conceit&quot;) that is said to be skilful, i.e. &quot;That person is progressing toward enlightenment, if I practice as they do then I will too&quot;.</p>
<p><strong>Then it's as if for non-stream entrants there is no free will</strong></p>
<p>Maybe avoid extreme views. Maybe &quot;everything is random&quot; is one extremity, &quot;everything is under one's self-control&quot; is another extremity, and both wrong views.</p>
<p>Speaking of &quot;streams&quot;, perhaps an analogy might be taking a boat across a stream -- you don't control the stream (though you may observe it), but if you're skilful and diligent, well taught, and have a good boat, then you may cross it.</p>
 16489: <blockquote>
  <p>Why aren't any non-stream-entrants destined to attain Nibbana?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Stream Entrant means, he has understood very clearly what's the issue with this world (pancca-upadanaskanda) and has seen and understood from his own life. After he has that knowledge (with the understanding) he will gradually (can be instantly depend on how wise he is) attain Nibbana. So without knowing the issue no one can attain Nibbana. It's like only when you understand how to swim (or ride a bicycle) you just can swim ( or ride). Just because you take lessons you can't swim or ride, you have to experience it by your self.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I don't know whether it is possible to be destined to attain Nibbana
  more than 7 lives beforehand. It isn't possible to be destined to attain Nibbana more than 7 lives beforehand (?).</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Many interpretations around this. </p>

<ul>
<li><p>The seven represents rest of the <code>phala</code> and <code>marga</code> (Stream-enterer, path to Once-returner, Once-returner, path to Non-returner, Non-returner, path to Arahant, Arahant).</p></li>
<li><p>The rest of the fetters (after being a stream enterer, he has dropped first 3 fetters out of 10. So 7 rest to be dropped as well). </p></li>
</ul>

<p>With all these, it's bit hard to say this is about 7 lives (births). Since above are bit more logical and that sense, this can happens in the same birth as well. If we think about Buddha's time this makes more sense. Because there are many who attain Nibbana in the same life. Anyway I'm not sure which is right.</p>
 43: <p>Say, you wanted to lose weight and stay healthy. If you have no idea about Calories, Carbs, Fat, and Exercise - you may spend years randomly trying all types of foods, fasting, etc. - your weight going up and down endlessly. But once you get a clear idea of the science behind the body weight, you start eating healthy and exercising. Then you can draw a burn-down chart of weight by day and see how fast you're moving. At this point you can more or less precisely predict how long it will take you to reach your target weight. So it gets rather "deterministic" for you (wrong use of the word but I will go with you here). While for the people who are on a random diet based on their cravings and dislikes, the weight loss is pretty much never going to happen, because they don't have a methodical system in place that creates rational causes leading in the right direction.</p>

<p>Similarly, with stream entry. You understand "wrongness" (dukkha), the way it arises from conflict between "is" and "should", and the behaviors leading to conflict. You also understand "peace", the way it arises from the cessation of conflict, and the behaviors leading to no-conflict. Once you clearly see that, you can act accordingly. Once you act accordingly, it can be known that you will finish the process in finite time (seven lives being a figure of speech).</p>

<p>It's really simple, no need to over-complicate it. </p>
