Is Construction Work Bad Luck?

Dear Jinu,

I am sorry for your loss, and for happening at such a time. I have never heard it said that bad accidents occur during house construction. Work related accidents at the construction site: well, yes, of course. That such a time is fraught with stress that can affect the harmony between couples or friends, yes, of course.

Let me offer an illustration: let’s say a person is seized with the wild idea to climb Mt. Everest. This person has no special training, skills or strength but he is possessed by the idea and he has the money to do this. He finds an expedition group that will help him climb with only modest preparation. So, off he goes but, sadly, he dies in the attempt. There are adventures that a person might sometimes attempt that are beyond their strength and beyond their karmic pattern. In such cases it is possible that everything that can go wrong, goes wrong.

Was the decision to build the home a natural and harmonious one? And the design, financing, and other circumstances surrounding the construction also harmonious? Or was this a time of chaos, confusion, perhaps even disharmony? Sometimes, impelled by desire we simply go beyond what is ours to do and in the process “break” the shield of protection that surrounds us when we otherwise remain in our “center:” fulfilling our dharma, remaining calm, and working with our core strength and directions.

Nonetheless, only a true guru can say for sure. A person’s karma can be exceedingly difficult to understand. Each of us is unique in every sense of the word. Pray for your husband’s soul, for prayers for those who have left are universally understood to be effective and welcomed by them. Grief, you cannot help. But faith, in the goodness of life, of God, and of all that is yours in this life as guidance to your soul’s evolution, you can affirm. From this you will find comfort and direction in life.

May God’s peace and comfort be with you,
Nayaswami Hriman