Almost all the time we complain. Sometimes we may be vocal about it but most of the time we silently complain. Why did it happen to me? Why always bad things happen to good people like me? We always consider ourselves a victim of an unjust system. Occasionally we console ourselves philosophically that may be its happening because of my some previous bad karma which I might have done unknowingly!
Yes, in our life’s journey we face adversities which either we may foresee or it may fall on us like a summer rain. Previous karma does not necessarily seal our future; our future mostly depends on how we react in a precarious situation. Suppose that someone speaks unpalatable words to us then at that instance we have the opportunity to either aggravate the situation or cool down the tempers. The other person’s insulting words may have fallen on us due to our some previous bad karma but if we react with a spiritual wisdom then the situation and our problems will not conflagrate. During the recession period, a person lost his job and was not able to find one quickly. He became so upset and mentally disturbed that once in a fit of rage he stabbed a person. This not only landed him in prison but completely ruined his life and career. A person with a balanced mindset might have used that period to upgrade his skill or to go for higher studies.
The altitude which we will reach in our life depends on our attitude.
God has bestowed upon us sufficient intelligence to convert any problems into an opportunity. So, whenever we find ourselves in an unpleasant situation then instead of giving a knee – jerk reaction we should contemplate for a while and then make the next move. During those perilous times, if we judiciously use our spiritual intelligence then that insidious situation may even become a springboard to reach closer to God.
When Vidura was rebuked, humiliated and was practically forced out of the kingdom by Duryodhana then Vidura did not lament and said that why did it happen to me. He did not grumble that although he was on righteous path and on the side of truth then why did miseries impinge him. Instead of getting caught in all these negativities he simply went on a spiritual mission – on his spiritual sojourn he met sages like Maitreyi and devotees like Uddhava; he practically used all his time to remember God. So, when next time we come through any unpleasant situation and circumstances then let us not simply feel like a victim and complain as “Why bad things happen to good people like me?” but instead let us try to do something outstanding and meaningful. And the best is to utilize it to get closer to God.
