Look at us! We've all hurt others' feelings. We've all criticized others. We've lied. We've stolen. Ten non-virtuous acts? We've all done them! We know everything about each other. We've all done this - in previous lives especially, we've had lots of time for training in non-virtue. No, not so much training for virtue in previous lives… otherwise, we wouldn't be here. You know? Very good practice in non-virtue. So, of course, this lifetime we have some problems. It's no big surprise. Is it? It's really no big surprise.
I find this way of thinking very, very helpful for situations when I feel I had no intention of starting a conflict, and yet here's this whole horrible thing happening. If I think, obviously, in previous lives I did something, and here it is, and it's ripening, then I accept it.
I accept it. It's ripening. I got myself into this situation. Now, my job is to ensure I don't create more negative karma. Because clearly the problem now is due to a previous life's karma. So, at least let's not create more negative karma, and we can avoid perpetuating the same thing again.
But, what often happens, how do we react when we have a problem? We get angry, don't we? Or, we get very attached. We have a problem, so we cling to something because we feel insecure. Or, we want to strike back at whatever is causing our problem. Yet, when we react to problems with clinging, or anger, what we do is create karmic imprints for problems in future lives. And we continue the cycle.
Personally, I find it helpful to think, "Okay. This is a result of my previous life karma. No sense getting attached. No sense getting angry. Here it is. It's happening, folks. I just have to live through it. I must do as best I can to make the best of this situation."
by Thubten Chodron
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