Expert: Justin Choo - 2/17/2005

Question
I work in a big city as a paramedic. Compassion and understanding is a big part of working on the streets, and dealing with hurt and sick people.  I have been a practicing buddhist for several years, but have trouble with one aspect of the teachings.  I have read that everything bad that happens in our lives can be attributed to some sort of bad karma in a past life, or a bad deed in the present life.  I have trouble looking at a severly hurt person in the back of my ambulance and thinking that they somehow are to blame for whatever unfortunate accident happened to them.  I just feel like attributing their misfortune to a past bad karma is really mean considering their current suffering.  Can you share your thoughts on how to deal with this?

Answer
Hi Greg,
Thank you for asking me.

The law of kamma is one of the 5 cosmic laws that govern our lives.  They are:
1. The physical or inorganic order, such as temperature, seasons, wind, snow, rain and other physical events.
2. The organic or germinal order, such as plant life and  genes.
3. The kamma order, the natural order of cause and effect.
4. The mind order, the consciousness factor existing in living beings.
5. The natural phenomena order, such as gravity, creation and destruction, and impermanance.

Of all the above orders, the law of kamma is the strongest.  It states that what we are is the result of what we were; and what we will be is the result of what we are.  From this perspective, we can see that we have at least half a chance of controlling our lives, here and now.  What had been done in our past, we have little control over them right now.  The understanding of this universal law of kamma enables us to accept the consequences that happen to us, be they happy or sorrowful.  It helps us to realize that we must always be alert to conduct our lives skilfully so that we do not suffer the sorrowful consequences in time to come.  We have this moral obligation to ensure that our future in this life-time (and our future lives) be a peaceful and happy one.

We must approach our understanding of the law of kamma with a dose of compassion.  We don't condemn the sufferer with a "you deserve it" attitude.  We must have a compassionate understanding that because of some bad kamma in the past, that this person is now suffering.  It is not our business to judge, but to help in any way we can.  In addition, we must also consider those who deliberately cause problems for others; and those who foolishly neglect their lives.  We can't say for sure that because of some past bad kamma that these people choose to behave as such.  One thing for sure, they have full control over their lives at this point in time, and if they neglect this responsibility, then they have to bear the consequences.

Knowing the truth is not being mean. Knowing the truth is having wisdom to acknowledge the raw facts of this world; the world of Dukkha, the unsatisfactoriness of this existence.  Knowing this truth means not to subject to fear that some power is punishing us.  Knowing the truth means that we are confident to face this world of Dukkha.  Most important of all, knowing the truth means we must change ourselves to reduce our greed, hatred and delusion, so that we can lead a happier and more peaceful lives.

Hope this is of help to you.  Please continue with your good work and have compassion for those unfortunate people.  You are not mean; but a person who knows the truth of life.

Smile from justinchoo :-)