Yesterday I heard a someone on the radio explain the Hindu religious concept of "karma". He talked about things I'd never thought about before. This speaker went on to mention that in India the reason not many in society reach out to help the vast number of beggars is that they believe they are reaping their just, negative rewards. Through reincarnation, the beggars are living and paying for the evil they've done in their prior lives. Just so, anyone who is wealthy and privileged is reaping the good they've done in past lives. (It's like there is some perverse fairness to this thinking.) Truly, there is no compelling reason to help the poor if they are responsible for their own poverty because of evil choices made in a past life. Sadly, the fabric of karma is woven so deeply in this society that hopelessness must be the prevailing emotion for the poor. Apparently, all are not created equal.
It's something to think about. . . when I come across someone having a bad day, remind me never to flippantly say, "Oh, it's just bad karma."
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