Expert: Justin Choo - 3/16/2011

Question
Beside man-made problem of wars and fight, when nature unleash it fury like those of US Katrina, Sichuan earthquake , Japan tsunami and earthequake plus the consequence of nuclear problem or the Christchurch earthquake with plenty of casualty. Human life lost basically being at the wrong place and the wrong time, how do we see such happening from the perspective of a Buddhist. Many a time it would point the finger at karma, the paying back for past deed or the settlement of debts. Collective karma ? My friend explained there is no answer to whatever question when nature strike. So please elaborate of this subject , Thanks.

Answer
Hi Foo sp,

This question has been asked many times especially after a major disaster has happened. In terms of explanations in the context of religion, Buddhist answer is very different.  Whichever explanation one chooses to accept, very much depends on the person's entrenched belief.  


I have answered this question before. But later I came across a better exposition on this subject by none other than my late spiritual teacher, the Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda. Below is an extract of his answer. To read the full text please refer : http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=6,816,0,0,1,0

[The Buddha stated that all living beings and the universe exist as a combination of elements and energy. These elements - earth, wind, water and heat are governed by natural, universal cosmic laws which go through a perpetual cycle of birth, growth, decay and disappearance. This universe of animate and inanimate objects exists on a basis of conditioning and the occurrence of mental and physical events that are governed by natural laws (dhamma niyama).

The Buddha spoke of five natural laws, one of which is the Law of Energy (utu niyama). Energy, in its two forms of heat and cold, causes many changes within the body and the environment. It is always in a state of flux, of continuous change and is always seeking a balance. It is the law that govern changes in a body, such as old age and illness, or in an ecological context, with respect to such things as climates, seasons and earth movements.

The Buddha explained very clearly that the operation of this law is not only limited to this physical world, but also throughout the universe. It affects every existing planetary system and all forms of cosmic metaphysics, whether material or immaterial. All these elements are subjected to change, encountering imbalance from time to time.

Everythiing on this earth is guided by natural laws. They decay, disappear and born over and over again, dictated by a never ending cosmic cycle. Disaster takes place from time to time because basic elements like water, earth, wind and fire are always in a constant flux, trying to maintain a balance. That is why the Buddha said that a human life is dukkha (unsatisfactory), because he/she is also subject to such a flux. Regardless of status or species, because of this universal flux, every creature or being experiences dukkha (unsatisfactoriness).

While Buddhism states that we have a certain degree of control over our lives, natural forces also affect our lives.  Buddhists do not believe that everything is due to kamma. They do not ignore the role played by other forces of nature. As can be seen, kamma constitutes but one aspect of natural laws. The simplistic supposition that all life experiences are due to kamma is therefore incorrect.

Understanding these different underlying elements in the physical and psychical spheres helps us to gain a clearer understanding of how a single event may have resulted from more than one cause and how different determinants may synchronously be involved in conditioning certain phenomena or experiences. Usually, when more than one phenomenal force are at work, the more predominant one will prevail.

For example, extreme temperature (utuniyama) may influence the conditions of the mind (cittaniyama) and cause one to feel ill at ease. Or strong will power (cittaniyama) may temporarily override the effects of negative environments (utuniyama) and the results of kamma (kammaniyama). In the case of natural disasters, kammic energies become inactive due to the overwhelming forces of earth and water movements, such as earthquakes and tsunamis. The cataclysmic result of the Asian tsunami disaster is a powerful demonstration of the law of kamma surrendering to natural laws (utuniyama).

The devastating waves that took hundreds of thousands of lives operated without regard to the merit of the victims. Those with good and bad kamma suffered equally. No one, and nothing, can escape from such energy that assumes impermanency as a constant.

The foundation of Buddhism is based upon the acceptance of this universal truth. To have an intimate understanding of such knowledge will enable one to accept with equanimity of what cannot be changed.

It is essential for human beings to cultivate compassion and maintain kindness as a means to learn to live with such a flux. Peaceful living does not mean to conquer nature. It entails one to have deep understanding and appreciation of its forces. And this is precisely the reason why it is a fallacy to blame external powers (such as God) for the massive calamity caused by the devastating tsunami. There is no one to blame, and nothing to blame on.]


Hope this answers your question.

Take care.

Justin Choo