Sri.Narayan Sir, Greetings. I refer to your message in post #46.
Referring your msg # 7, I am inclined to think that there is some stuff in karma theory. I cannot think of any other reason for the sufferings some kids undergo (for no fault of their own) when they are born as physically or mentally challenged. If there is no "equaliser", I would presume that only the fittest will survive and there would be no room for any living being other than the "fittest" on this earth.
Most of us believe, there is a God who is also a creator. We also believe, we are created by this creator. Also, we believe that this creator, God is just and merciful; cares for our individual welfare.
But when we face pain and misery, like the physically and mentally challenged children, we are very reluctant to place the blame for the defective creation under the creator's feet. Since we believe the creator is all knowing and very justful, we cannot bring ourselves to blame the creator for the defect in the creation. So, we end up blaming the victims. Victims here are the defective creations. As a tradesperson, if I produced defective workmanship like that, I would have lost my job with or without notice. That is a fact.
Since we want to blame the victims, since we can't see any other fault, we have to resort to 'poorva janma' theory and 'poorva janma karma'.
Physically and mentally challenged children are the proof to show there is no creator. Even a nincompoop like me would never put anyone in harm's way, least of all a child. All the religions say, no matter how worst the sin may be, if the sinner repents and prays for forgiveness, that sin would be wiped out. Baghava Gita too says the same thing. All it requires is to 'surrender unto his lotus feet'.
If the creator is that merciful, that creator would not create physically and mentally challenged children 'for the sake of punishing mistakes they have not done'! Think about it for a second, please... If you believe the reincarnation theory, this body is only like a garment, to be discarded at the end of this reincarnation; why would the creator punish 'my garments' in order to punish me? Does it make sense? It does not for me though.
What 'equaliser'? Where is the equality? only the fittest survive. Not just the fittest, but the most manipulative and the smart only survive well. If there is an equaliser, everyone should have been equal in all aspects. That is not the case. Right from reaching the egg in mother's womb all the way to death, only the fittest survive. That is the law of nature.
Does not the non-parity in the length of the rope indicate that some are born (and in most probability will be) less equal than others? If not karma, what would be the reason for this disparity?
Maya or illusion is the reason for this disparity. It is not karma. In post #7 I wrote this....
As per the length of the rope, the rope is not equitable in length. For the given same circumstances, the length of the rope is different in USA, Canada, Australia and in India; the length of the rope is not equitable compared to city exposure to village expposure; different depending upon the persons involved, rich/poor/educated/illiterate/orthodox/reformist.... there are many variables.
That quoted message only shows the apparent inequality of the length of rope. In truth, there is no rope. The rope itself is an illusion.
Let us consider a brilliant child is born in Kallahary Desert/ in a poor Harijan family in a village in India (where Govt schemes have not reached)/ in a poor Brahmin family in Tamil Nadu/ to an astute parent like Sri.Yamaka/ in an influential family in USA.......
What is the length of the rope for the individual child from each example, please? The length is just the same. But we fail to see it.
All the children enjoy their childhood with the same vigor as the next child. Every child grows up weilding influnce in it's own sorroundings and environment. We fail to see that.
Happiness is a subjective term. When I was a youngster, I was very happy when I could go to the nearest sugarcane farm and choose a sugarcane and eat it (there was always a thrill when the farm was not our farm!); eating fresh groundnut, just pulled out, the cream sticky on both my cheeks, dethorning and eating cactus fruit.... Only when we lump all the examples together, we are confused. Comparing a kid growing up in an influential family in USA to a kid in a poor Indian family is not fair. Each kid will have his/her own happy life as per their own social condition and society norms. Comparing them is an illusion.
In my humble opinion, there is no karma that control our lives; there is no creator sitting there, creating us. We are here due to natural selection. In the natural process, sometimes, cells are not built properly, ending up physically or mentally challenged children.
Cheers!