Do You Believe in Karma?

Yesterday, I was discussing with my wife about Karma and luck, and if she believes in God. She said that she is an atheist but believes that if she doesn’t harm anyone then no harm will be done unto her. In other words, she believes in the proverb that ‘Life is fair’ as long as she is righteous and honest. That put me in a thinking mode.

I think sayings such as, everything happens for a reason, or, there is something good hidden in everything that happens, or, I won’t suffer because I have not hurt anyone, are in vogue because they are comforting to us because it reduces some of our anxiety about the unpredictable nature of the future. Otherwise, everything is happening without any reason or meaning.

Our minds are meaning-making machines and then imposing it to different circumstances as per our convenience.

I asked her, “All this while, you’ve been good to people. You are a compassionate soul with empathy for all. But God forbid if you met with an accident with a rash driver tomorrow through no fault of yours, what would be your stance on Karma then?”

She was left in a quandary and replied, “That won’t ever happen to me.’

A lot of people believe in the concept of Karma and reiterate that what goes around comes around, and it’s mentioned in the scriptures of different faiths as well, but did Hitler get what he deserved for his actions?

Do all the rapists get the punishment they deserve?

Do all the murderers and criminals get booked for their crimes?

They say that if not in this birth, people will have to face the consequences of their actions in the next birth. But can you say for sure that rebirth is a phenomenon? Can anyone provide any evidence to support the claim to rebirth? Who knows what happens after we die?

I choose to believe that our actions are inconsequential, to which even this existence is aloof. To the universe — all our wars, revolutionary movements, and breakthrough achievements are just trivial affairs. In the words of Carl Sagan:

The universe seems neither benign nor hostile, merely indifferent.

My philosophy in life is simple — whether or not I will be rewarded/punished for my deeds, I am going to perform my duties and create something for my fellow beings just for the love of it, just for the sake of it, just because it is ought to be done; and accept any resulting outcome that may come my way. I know it’s easier said than done. But we can at least try.