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Karma !
We are all ruled by karmic deeds of our own past.
Good and bad.
Depending on our past actions, we may enjoy or suffer in life. However, this does not mean we are
“destined” to suffer forever. If we
act in the right manner now, we can easily improve our future. Indeed, our future is totally
dependant on our own actions. We are
the creators of our own destiny !
So, why do good people suffer ?
Past or present action, inaction or omissions means even good people have to sometimes suffer. However, if the good people take corrective actions, have patience and forbearance, their good works pay off in due time. Just as plants take time to mature and produce their fruits, karmas take their own time to mature and produce desired results. The more diligent you are, better the crop of karmas.
So, why does evil prosper ?
Past or present action, forethought, forward planning or help from others sometimes allows even evil people to prosper for a while. However, just as fire burns itself out by consuming its own fuel, once the fruits of good actions are exhausted, evil people swiftly get the punishment due to them.
A lot of people who believe in God or do are “religiously active” presume they will never have anything bad happen to them. The moment there is a crisis in their lives, they rave and rant at God, demand that their lives should be made smooth or they will stop believing in God !
Having God on your side is no talisman against your own karmas ! If you have incurred debt, you have incurred debt. Having a rich dad by your side means he may decide to help you out with the debt, but someone has to pay ! If the father is smart and has the god of the child at heart, he will make the child pay his own debt so he learns and lesson and does not repeat his mistakes. Rich dad will act as a collateral, so the child never default, but he will not spoil the child by paying it for him.
God does not interfere in the workings of the universe unless there is a crisis. Why should he mess up his own system ? If you want, God can grant you the strength to deal with your karmas, he can provide guidance, but, to take on the karmas on his own head is a step too far.
Rama did not take away the karmas of Dashrath to negate the curse of Shravan’s parents. Rama did not paper-over the cracks in public opinion of him and his queen. Rama’s own sons grew up in Valmiki’s ashram !! Had God wanted to interfere, surely he would / could / should have done it for his own wife and sons ! But he didn’t !
Krushna’s own life was far from smooth. His brothers were mercilessly killed at birth by his own uncle, his childhood was punctuated with one calamity or another, even in Dwarika, there were enough problems between his relatives to occupy him fully time !!. His own first born son was kidnapped whist still a baby, his various sons caused him no end of headaches with their ill advised antics, his own grandson was kidnapped and found to be imprisoned by an asur, his cousins at Hastinapur has enough problems to require his help on almost permanent basis. Whilst the Pandavas were exiled for 13 years, their children and various dependants came back to live at Dwarika. Even after the war was won in no uncertain terms, there was the constant problem of Yudhisthir relapsing into depression at the slightest opportunity ! The last vestige of Kurukul – Parisksheet was born dead and Shri Krushna had to revive him. When everything seemed to be settling down, the Yadavas quarrelled and killed each other !!
Karma impacts even Krushna and his friends and family, so who are we to complain ?
Just because the good people sometimes suffer, there is no need to assume evil people have it all good. Ravana may have kidnapped Sita and lived in a golden city, but, he was hardly able to catch a wink of sleep, thinking what will happen when Rama attacks. His beloved city and its innumerable princes died in a war borne out of his lust for Sita. Till date, Ravan is so reviled, no one cares to name their child Ravan.
Like Ravan, Duryodhan is equally despised throughout
For a peaceful, good life, all we can ever do is carry on doing that which is right - morally & ethically - and always work towards improving our lives. God will only ever grant us strength and advise – and that’s about it. We are in charge of our own destiny and our own feeling of peace.
So next time you see a person cry, good or bad, or a person laugh, good or bad, remember, they are all enjoying the fruits of their own karmas.
© Bhagwat [email protected]