Expert: Justin Choo - 7/15/2008

Question
Here is a quote from a Buddhist monk that I read.  “Whatever happens in our life happens because we deserve it.  We don’t get anything undeservedly.  A lot of us complain “Oh!  Why should this happen to me?’  Just tell yourself “because I deserve it”.  Whether it is good or not good, things happen to us because we deserve it”.

I thought to myself if a terrorist shot blindly into a crowd of people would his bullets hit only  those who deserve to suffer?  I read in the newspaper of a man who raped a girl and then chopped of both of her arms.  She survived.  Did she deserve this? Is everything that happens to us whether good or bad really the result of karma or because we deserve it?   And what about the people who commit these terrible crimes.  Should they pay for what they did, after all they are only carrying out the karma that their victims deserve?

The Buddha said most emphatically that we should not accept anything he said because he said it. Instead we should investigate and determine if it is true or helpful.  This is what I am trying to do.                           
Thanks   

AL

Answer
Hi AL,

Welcome back.

You are right saying "The Buddha said most emphatically that we should not accept anything he said because he said it. Instead we should investigate and determine if it is true or helpful.  This is what I am trying to do."

I would add another caution:  Are we sure that the Buddha did say it??  This put more emphasis for us to be sharp amd critical.  Please continue to practise the Buddha's teachings in the manner you are doing now.  You are on the right track.

There is a certain amount of truth in what that monk said, but he should explain further; and I wonder whether he might be right for the wrong reason, or not knowing the ultimate reason at all.  And a word of caution, this type of statement is better left unsaid in public for it takes a deeper and detailed explanation and understanding to substantiate it, let alone agree with it.  It is just like saying "the will of God".  

All of us have the ability to decide and act either for our own good and protection or for our own downfall.  So long as we have this free will to act (or not to act) we cannot attribute everything to kamma.  If we are to accept this theory that everything is due to kamma and we have no control whatsoever, then we are being very stupid and utterly foolish.  We are then no better than subscribing to the statement "it's the will of God".  Then we can just close our eyes while crossing the road!!

The important "qualifying statement" has to be added to substantiate his claim.  And that is: "after having taken ALL possible precautions, whatever then happens is "most probably" the retribution of our past kamma.  This retributive result is the "vipaka" of the kamma that we generated.  

In my personal opinion, it is better left unsaid to "condemn" a person for his/her misfortune.  The misfortune itself is bad enough.  It would be most insensitive and rude of us to tell people that they deserve it.  In the final analysis, are we that sure??

Smile from Justin Choo :-)



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