Yoga Philosophy: Is karma a b*tch?

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Yes, I have been there too! The time when everything seems to go in the wrong direction. Things getting out of control. Do I deserve this? You ask yourself. Why is it happening? Is it the Universe conspiring? Is it karma?

In these moments you may start going over and over the disturbing facts, trying to figure out what we could have done differently, how you could have avoided this or that.

You also try to control the future, if just this would happen, then that would be again like before, or better...

The mental “ping pong match” is served: from the sadness about the lost past, to the anxiety about the future. Back and forth.

But the match rules are unfair: the past cannot be changed and the future cannot be controlled. Karma must be a b*tch!

Is it? Well, definitely the Karma Theory says that there are a set of karmas (actions) that you will have to experience during your life (Prarabdha Karma), BUT, there are also your responses to those experiences (called Kriyamana Karma). In simpler words, as the late Randy Pausch said: 

 “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand”.

And reflecting on Pausch’s words we realize that circumstances don’t make us really special. From the minor to the big things, it is our response that sets us aside!

Maybe winning the lottery seems exceptional but around the world there are people winning the lottery daily. Now, what you make with that money, that can make you different. 

You may be in a committed relationship and have a very good opportunity to be unfaithful, is that normal? Yes, it happens daily. How you deal with that can make you exceptional. 

Knowledge? There are many people with the same knowledge. How you use it can make a difference. 

And going to extremes, sadly there are many people around the world being diagnosed with a terminal disease every day. But how Randy Pausch faced it, making it an example for his children and inspiring others to achieve their dreams and live a meaningful life makes him someone exceptional (You may want to watch Randy Pausch Last Lecture).

So unfortunately we cannot expect “karma not to be a b*tch”, i.e., life to be fair, we can only play our cards to our best to make a difference. And the game of cards starts in our mind, but that is material for another article.