Are life’s reversals karma, tests by Maya, or Krishna’s push to surrender?

When we face reversals in life, we often wonder whether these are the results of our past karma, tests by Maya, or Krishna pushing us to surrender to him. Understanding the precise cause of suffering is challenging, as Krishna himself states in the Bhagavad-gita (4.17) that the movements of karma are very difficult to unravel. This highlights the importance of avoiding oversimplified explanations for complex adversities.

What matters most is how we respond to reversals. Krishna emphasizes that adversities befall both the wise and the unwise. The difference lies in their response: the wise act constructively to make things better, while the unwise act destructively, worsening the situation.

Consider Arjuna’s situation in the Mahabharata war, which Krishna addressed in the Bhagavad-gita. Krishna did not focus on pinpointing the exact cause of the war or the adversities it brought. Instead, he guided Arjuna to act in ways that were uplifting and liberating. The Gita’s emphasis is on responding to adversities constructively rather than being entangled by them.

From the perspective of the Gita’s worldview, multiple factors can contribute to any event. Understanding these factors can inspire us to respond constructively. For instance:

  1. Past karma: Viewing adversities as the results of past karma can motivate us to act responsibly and avoid further entanglement.
  2. Tests by Maya: Viewing challenges as tests can inspire us to strengthen ourselves, knowing that exams are both important and temporary.
  3. Arrangements by Krishna: Seeing difficulties as Krishna’s arrangement can encourage us to take shelter of him more earnestly, seeking his guidance and grace.

However, each perspective has its limitations. Dwelling excessively on karma can make us feel insecure about unknown past actions and potential future repercussions. Similarly, seeing reversals as tests by Maya may overwhelm us if we feel incapable of overcoming her power. And viewing adversities as Krishna’s arrangements may sometimes discourage us if we feel forced into situations that strain our relationship with him.

In such cases, it’s essential to focus on what sustains a positive and constructive attitude. Krishna assures in the Bhagavad-gita (10.10) that he provides the intelligence needed to navigate life’s challenges when we approach him sincerely. At times, focusing on immediate actionable causes, rather than abstract or spiritual explanations, can help us deal with adversities more effectively. For example, Arjuna did not dwell on philosophical causes after Abhimanyu’s death but instead focused on defeating Jayadratha as an immediate step to address the situation.

Summary:

  • Pinpointing a specific cause for life’s reversals is difficult, as Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita (4.17), because karma and its consequences are complex.
  • Viewing challenges through the lenses of karma, Maya, or Krishna’s arrangements can inspire us, but focusing on the perspective that best enables a constructive response is most important.
  • At times, it’s practical to set aside philosophical speculations and focus on immediate actionable solutions, as seen in Arjuna’s response to Abhimanyu’s death.

Think it over:

  • Why is it problematic to pinpoint an exact cause for life’s setbacks?
  • How can the perspectives of karma, Maya, and Krishna’s arrangements be both helpful and unhelpful in explaining suffering?
  • Consider a difficulty you are currently facing and identify the most actionable way to deal with it.

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04.17 The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is and what inaction is.