Date Sent: June 22, 2013
Mother Nature’s wrath is currently in progress in north India. Horrible stories coming out of daily about the destruction and loss of life cause by the floods. Indian Government says 500 have died so far while some sources say the number is in few thousand. Several thousands are still stranded in the flood affected areas. Shocking tales of human apathy are coming to the fore. This is just one story of mass destruction caused by rage of storms, hurricanes, volcanoes …Mother Nature’s fury is unimaginable. There have been many in the past there will be many in the future. That is how nature works.
So, how does the equation of Karma fits into mass deaths because of natural calamities? What is the role of Karma, what place it has in the event of natural calamities like earthquakes, tsunami, hurricanes, in war, in genocide, in plane crashes, in the case of massacres by terrorists and so forth? Here is a thought provoking post from OM Swami. It does not really answer anything but makes you think…helps carve your own thought process.
Inquisitive Mind: Any though process or process of questioning is like giving clay to a child, he keeps on creating different forms till the charm remains and then he molds all figures back into a ball and leaves it aside. He may repeat the process till he grows out of it, till he is fascinated no more, till he gets another toy. Similarly, your conscious mind keeps you busy by asking questions and trying to find answers, it wants to keep you fascinated, keep you engaged.
A quiet Mind: on the other hand is like a stable boat floating in an infinite ocean of bliss without any waves, it has gone quiet. It is alert, conscious, super conscious in fact, but it is not bogging you down with endless questions about some philosophy, some abstract theory you want to plug into tangible thesis; instead, it keeps you focused, your energies channelized, escalating your awareness to an entirely new level. Your most profound answers will emerge from this state of quietude. In a state of quiescence you have no questions but only answers. In fact, it is a state where mind is not asking any questions, and therefore, is not seeking any answers. It is a state above all doubts. It is a Blissful state with no questions left behind in your mind.
Here are two sides of the Karma puzzle:
One from our side of the river (human) and another from the other side of river (Divine bliss). These two sides are separated by the river called “Samsara”….world of Maya or grand illusion of mind. An inquisitive mind asks questions and has no answers. A quiet mind never has questions.
Among millions of people, there is only one Jivanmukta who is able cross river of “Samsara”, fire of “Maya”….rest of them continue to get crushed in the cycle of life and death one after the other….it is an endless cycle of misery and pains. Read The Lost World!
View of Karma from our side of the river (human side):
When good things happen (promotion, gaining wealth etc.) – We say its “ME” who did it!
When bad things happen (demotion, loss of wealth etc.) – We say “bad people around me” did it!
When worst thing happen (disease, debt, loss of life) – People say “God” did it!
Here is view from the other side of the river (Divine side):
Life is bound by Law of Karma (read Nature’s law: Karma, Rebirth, God and You)
I never punish, nor do I reward anyone. It is your own karmas that bring you events that you think are reward or punishment. It is the law of action and reaction that brings you the fruits. No one should be credited not blamed…It is all about Your Karmic account that You generate by each of Your action. You get what you saved, you reap what you sow. I give you 100% freedom to choose your actions. I do not interfere when the fruit is generated (good or bad).
If you surrender your Karmas to me, I will help you cross the river of Maya. When you come on my side, you will attain that state of quietude where your mind will enjoy eternal bliss, it will never have any questions. A state where your mind is not seeking any answers because there are no questions. It is a state of bliss where there are no miseries or pain with you!
----------------------- Post by OM Swami
Mass Destruction and Karma
A few readers wrote to me with similar questions. They wanted to know the role of karma, what place it has in the event of natural calamities like earthquakes, tsunami, hurricanes, in war, in genocide, in plane crashes, in the case of massacres and so forth. Let me share my point of view on this.
As I wrote earlier, I do not believe that the law of karma is your answer to everything, every occurrence. It is possible to retrofit theories, to force a square peg in a round hole and cover the gaps with some adhesive creating the illusion of a perfect fit, it will only offer temporary consolation, short-lived solace.
Before I address your question, it is important to remember that it is conditioned mind alone that asks questions, the conscious mind coated by conditioning, it rejoices in calculations, in analysis, in exploration, it thrives on curiosity, it feeds on inquisitiveness. Not that anything is wrong with that, in fact, it is this very human trait that helped our race to surprise ourselves, to amaze ourselves, to rule all the other races, whether that is good or bad, is up to individual interpretation. Consider the following:
Onto your question now; let me segregate it into two parts:
Natural Calamities
Our planet has developed its own coping mechanism, an evolving ecosystem, a sustentative cycle, it is not dependent on the human race for its sustenance, and as such, does not see us any more important than an ant. It does not reason like us, if it did, we would be long gone. Acts of nature are simply corrective measures it takes to maintain its existence. Whether that involves spewing fire by erupting mountains through volcanic actions, or earthquakes to cast off the anomalies, it does so indiscriminately. Like the dog that shakes off water after bath, like the snake that sheds its old skin, Nature renews, realigns, and rejuvenates itself.
There is a natural order to most things, when butter is brought next to heat, it melts, wonderful it is, it is not an act of grace or grief. For example, there may be no media coverage, no sense of loss, if a hurricane hits an abandoned island and no one is hurt, for, no one lived there. Explorers may seek answers, reasons, from an ecological, geological perspective, it is highly unlikely anyone will approach it through some esoteric philosophy, religion, through arcane laws. Predominantly because, a sense of attachment is missing. However, if the same incident takes place in a densely populated coastal area causing casualties, we start searching for an answer in religion, in philosophy, in divination and so forth. You may agree to disagree, but all religions, bar none, are mere philosophies; actionable items are called rituals. Great spiritual leaders passed on their wisdom and followers shaped it into religions.
Read more at: http://www.omswami.com/2012/08/mass-destruction-and-karma.html |