Life is only fair

We often find ourselves in untoward situations and the first question that crosses the mind in times like these is ‘Why did this happen to me’.  Surely I haven’t done sinful deeds in this lifetime to deserve this kind of suffering. And this chain of thought leads to utter despair and helplessness with the conclusion that life is unfair. God is unfair and we blame him for all the suffering in our lives saying it is God’s will. And then we wait for him to set things right often bribing him with a box full of sweets or some cash rich prize. But is he the one really responsible for the misfortunes in our life? Or are we overlooking an important point here. God or the universal creator is a parent with unconditional love. It baffles my mind to think that a parent would inflict his/her child with pain and suffering. Surely this can’t be true which means there is a different science governing life.

Yes I call it science because it works with absolute precision in all our lives. This science or law works equally in all our lives. This is the science/law of karma – what you sow, so shall you reap. Surely this is not something new that you hear but the truth in the saying is often taken a tad too casually. We are the creators of our destiny. The actions of our past life determine the present. While there is little control over the past the present and future is very much within our control. The way we choose to respond to a present situation determines the ‘present’ in our lives and simultaneously becomes a cause for the future as well. There has to be a more proactive way of leading life where we are in total control of the choices and decisions we make from moment to moment.

However the first hurdle that comes our way is acceptance of the fact that we are responsible for our present circumstance. It is difficult to believe that we did something in the past the effects of which manifest in the present. The easier thing to do is to completely debunk the theory of a past existence and blame God for everything in the present. An example will perhaps elucidate the point I am trying to make. Take for instance the life of the five terrorists who created so much havoc in the Mumbai attacks in 2008. Their deeds affected the lives of thousands of people and caused so much pain and suffering to them. In the process 4 of them were shot dead themselves and one was hanged recently. Do u think that is a fitting end to their heinous crimes? Should death bring closure to their deeds and let them get away with so little? While that seems the obvious their karmic account however cannot be settled so easily. They will have to pay a price for what they did and isn’t that only fair? The new circumstances in which they are born will be determined by their past. For all you know one could be born as a crippled and decrepit being. But being unaware of his past deeds he would pity himself as much as arouse pity from those around. But the fact remains that his state is a matter of his own doing.

While this sounds a bit harsh, grasping this truth puts back the power to create our own destiny in our hands. Living in the present is the key. Choose your responses from this moment on. Don’t get swayed by the circumstances and what other people say or do. And when this becomes a way of life you will discover that life is only more than fair to you and to others as well.

Creating the perfect Symphony

“We often use the expression, “strike a chord in one’s heart.” The heart is like an instrument. It is the richness of the heart that determines the richness of our life experiences. Given the same circumstances, a person with a single-stringed heart might only produce and experience a monotonous music of life, while a person with a hundred-stringed heart can create and enjoy an immensely rich and deep symphony of life.” – Dr. Daisaku Ikeda

I was moved by the truth in these lines and began to enjoy my life that much more once I focused on creating the ‘hundred-stringed heart’. As a result, I am richer with a huge circle of friends I have been able to strike a chord with. We often wait for another to strike a chord in our heart. While it is impossible to create the symphony all alone, it isn’t required to wait for another to initiate it either. Pull the right chords within your heart and hear the music reverberate out into the universe. That will in turn attract what will eventually lead to the perfect symphony in your life. It boils down to the strength of the signals you send out into the universe. The greater and richer they are, the greater the frequency returned.

It is only when we focus on cultivating the inner richness of our heart that life becomes truly purposeful and full of joy. There is newness to living life this way. I say this because ‘focus on the self’ gives us a refreshing perspective to address troublesome situations. Blame and anger directed at the outside world is futile at the end of the day. It doesn’t change anything.

Focus on self improvement on the other hand is the surest path to happiness. As we build the treasures of the heart, turning anger to compassion, hatred to love and fear into courage…these very treasures become the foundation for leading a life full of rich experiences. And these are the very virtues that help us strike the perfect chord. Fine tune your heart and mind to do that and enjoy the ripple effect – a richer life experience enjoyed with an increased circle of friends; because interaction with others is what creates the perfect symphony.