Why is it that people keep asking. If God exist why does bad things happend ?
Why is it that they don`t understand that humans are behind most of the bad things that happens ?
—aa, Europe
Dear aa:
True, human beings are the instrument through which things happen – bad and good.
The question is, then, what is a human being? Where do thoughts come from? Why are some people noble and others despicable? Do we act entirely on our own or are we subject to influences we may not be aware of?
In Autobiography of a Yogi, Master says, “Thoughts are universally and not individually rooted; a truth cannot be created, but only perceived. The erroneous thoughts of man result from imperfections in his discernment. The goal of yoga science is to calm the mind, that without distortion it may mirror the divine vision in the universe.”
In other words, we don’t create our own consciousness; we tune in to what is already there. We receive what we are capable of receiving. Fears, desires, resentments, anger and a host of other egoic cross-currents limit our receptivity. In the Bible, St. John says, “To all who received him [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons of God.”
So, in a sense, human beings are responsible for whatever level of consciousness they channel. Still, it is God who created the whole system in the first place, so in that sense, He is responsible, too.
An interesting subtlety is presented in the first line of Master’s poem Samadhi, describing the state of complete oneness with the Infinite. “Vanished the veils of light and shade,” The obvious phrase would be “light and dark.” Instead, Master says “light and shade.” Shade is created when something blocks the light. The light is not diminished in any actual way.
Some human beings are like clear glass: light shines through perfectly. Others have so clouded their consciousness with “imperfect discernments,” that almost no light comes through. They create shade all around them.
Points worth meditating on.
Blessings,
Nayaswami Asha
