The universe is not punishing you

First the simple one: Bad thing happens to all of us. We all know that, and when it happens to someone else, we think “Why, this thing happens only to me.” When it happens to us, we desire a reason. That questioning mindset means you have a good head on your shoulders because that will help you not get into the same problems again - if all conditions are the same. The second one if a bit more personal: Karma. With karma, I do not mean the superstitious kind. Rather, I mean to declare that a person who is doing something that is risky, unhealthy, undesired, and what have you may get away with that for a real good time. But not forever. So, if your life has been based on certain assumptions that are (or that is) not exactly desired, then there is a good chance ‘the universe’ will end up punishing you.

The third one is even more personal and collective: mankind’s destructive nature. This one is much harder to articulate, because if everyone is doing it, why can’t I? Yet if we behave badly collectively, then the shit will hit the fan collectively, but subsequently the shit coming off the fan will hit individuals. There are other reasons why things aren’t working out well, and that gets into the weeds of each person’s personal reality and circumstances. If your family member did something to another family, then a family member of that family may do something to you. You see how complex it gets, and revenge can both be understandable and done in very stupid and low manners at the same time. With this example I am trying to declare those reasons that are hidden from us, but that may one day become obvious and these explanations appear then ‘from left field.’

Overall conclusion is that adverse moments in our lives are opportunities to grow. Often we will grow because of them, whether we like to or not. I hope you feel better soon. Know that you are part of a very large family called mankind (don’t trust everyone right away, though), and do continue to be a bright person accepting that life can indeed be more than what appears to happen on the surface of it all. Some people are created to be healthy, wealthy and very attractive and have all the perks in life while others get sick, have horrible home life, can’t be smart enough to go to college and for the rest of their lives, they scrimp and scrape and struggle.

So, ..even though a person cannot be born under an unlucky star, it seems there’s something going on when these things happen. Life is what we make it. You have decided that you are punished. That is, you have "almost" given up. When one becomes disabled in life, at the middle age and he decides, not to let it, go beyond, my loved ones, but to take life as it was, and not as I wanted it to be. Count only the bright hours my friend! Then life is much easier. You know, maybe because the universe isn’t dictating every single action that you do. It’s almost like everybody has control of their actions. Them bullying you isn’t a test, they did it because they wanted to. You’re just making that claim to blame something for your actions or when things don’t go your way.

Karma is more to do with your intentions rather than physical action. It does differentiate between mistake and wilful action. Consider the following example of two doctors: A doctor has to operate a patient. He is well qualified, competent and experienced, having successfully performed many such operations. He prays for the success of the operation, operates the patient with all sincerity and care, but happens to commit a mistake during the operation and the patient dies. The family members of the patient curse the doctor, hold him responsible for the death and the doctor gets a bad name.

Another doctor has been treating a patient for a very long time in all sincerity, but despite best efforts the patient does not get cured. The doctor feels that the patient may not live long and he tells him about this. The patient has no legal heirs and in consideration of the gratitude for the doctor, he writes a Will in doctor’s favour. The doctor turns greedy. He gives him poison as medicine with the intention of killing. As luck would have it, the poison acts as medicine and the patient gets cured. He praises the doctor, feels grateful to him and the doctor gets good name.

We can see the contrast in the above two cases. Obviously, the second doctor is guilty for his bad intention and action, though the outside world may not think so. However, it is not that any wrong done by mistake does not attract bad karma. It does; but its intensity is low. Such karmas, unless they are of very serious nature, can usually be wiped off by sincere repentance or regret. It is, therefore, advisable to seek forgiveness for any wrong done by mistake, as soon as we realise it. Still better, if, before going to bed everyday, we can make it a practice to seek forgiveness from all living-beings for any wrong done to them knowingly or unknowingly. That way, we can wipe off the ill effect of most of the mistakes committed by us. Cheers!