More on ‘Is the Universe Benevolent’

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog inviting readers to think that they were living in a friendly universe. A universe that was aware of their existence and one that was well disposed toward them. A benevolent universe.

I received many responses. Each detailed something that had happened to the respondent, or a loved one, and ended with a query. How could this possibly be squared with the concept of a ‘benevolent universe’?

Quite a few involved serious illness or death. Sometimes of a young child. Some involved business failure and serious financial loss. One involved betrayal by a trusted family member. And many mentioned geopolitical events like the Holocaust, the partition of India, civil wars, genocide and so on.

I will answer these sincere questions on two levels.

In level one, I invite you to consider that you have injected yourself into the situation you describe. You never grieve for a loved one who has passed on. You grieve for yourself and what could have been, should have been, and would have been. There is guilt there as well about things you did that you should not have and things you should not have done but did.

There is anger and resentment and despair that the universe is not unfolding the way you think it should. That people you love are struggling, that your business ventures are tanking, that causes important to you are headed the wrong way.

Then admit to yourself that, at your current level of understanding, you cannot accept ‘this’, whatever ‘this’ is, as anything but a great tragedy. But you can decide that you will not let your life be defined by ‘this’ tragedy. So, you will wrap it in cellophane and put it on a shelf to be examined again when you have grown to a more mature spiritual understanding. And you will move on with your life and see if it is indeed a benevolent universe apart from ‘this’ particular tragedy.

Many worthwhile endeavors were inspired by and began as a result of personal tragedy. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) are examples.

Can you use your personal tragedy in like fashion?

On level two, consider that you are not who you think you are, and the world is not what you think it is. I have written about this in a recent blog.

You are playing a starring role in an intricate drama, an ongoing soap opera with many twists and turns. Don’t get sucked into the constantly changing plot lines. Don’t identify yourself with the character in the drama. You are the actor, not the character.

If you identify with the actor, you are gold.

If you identify with the character, you are screwed.

Remember — your job is to be. Not to be this or that or something else.

Wake up!

Peace!