What goes around and comes around?

Karma.

In the last few months I have suddenly become aware of the fragility of human life. It is a known fact that immortality cannot be achieved and we will all eventually die. Yet when young people die before their time we are overcome with sadness. Furthermore when a young person dies as a result of the thoughtless, reckless decisions made by others; we are sad and then angry as we start to realise how short, unfair and unpredictable life really is.

A hit and run accident on New Years Day killed two girls under the age of 21, a boy is still critically ill and one was injured. I happen to know these people so the event is raw and real for me, but this happens to people every day. The rash actions, futile acts of stupidity, and complete and utter misuse of free will condoned by some human beings changes thousands of lives forever. The immediate response to this change is of course devastation, grief and bitterness. However, there are some people who use the idea of Karma to deal with these incidents. karma is defined as, 'the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence' Even though the theory contradictions western religions who say that we succumb to the will of God rather than our own, the same idea is echoed in the Christian phrase, 'reap what you sow' Galatians 6:7.

Some describe Karma as a safety mechanism. It is a way for humans to hope and wish that one day those who commit evil and do wrong, will be punished and receive their comeuppance. When sudden situations, like young deaths occur, I think the idea of Karma and destiny can play an important part in the grieving process. For those who have faith, their grief is aided by God, as they believe he has taken their loved one for a reason and has better things in store for them. However, for those who do not believe, like myself, a discovery is needed to make sense out of shocking disasters, unexplained accidents and events that make no logical sense. This explanation can echo the idea of Karma in that the people responsible for these occurrences will eventually receive their payback. Or by looking at the bigger picture there is an unknown reason for the outcome present now, however the effect of the situation may have set into motion important events to come.

There are many different places where Karma can be noticed, considered or simply wished for. It can be the smallest incident or the greatest disaster. In life it is often said that bad people always seem to get happy endings, but for how long? Wealthy people gamble and win more money while millions starve, will they be rich forever? Just the idea that one day justice may be found can create a little peace for the few people who choose to see it.

Unexplained events surround us every day all over the world. Some just accept these and are content to assume that life on earth is simply that and there is no necessary reason for us to be here. They say we must enjoy our existence and there is not a reason for everything in life. I can see some truth in this idea as there is much about the world we cannot control or understand. Yet what is the harm in trying? I deeply believe that there is a reason for humans to exist, there is a reason we are the superior life form and there is a reason we have a soul, for it to live on after death. Therefore if we need to speculate about life's reasons, wish for justice and create possible rational solutions in our minds in order to feel better, what is the harm? Whether we exist for a reason or not, we all have in us an innate desire for justice and fairness. Therefore when this is not achieved we can but naturally imagine a time when it will be.

Karma is there - should you see a reason for it to exist.