Tragic Earthquake in Japan. Is it Fate? Is it Karma? Is It Living with "the Truth/God that Is Everywhere?"

It is no question,

• a very heart breaking incident
• deserving of everyone's support,
  • to help morally
    • talk to people who have been directly impacted and provide words and deeds of support that they are not alone
    • volunteer, write, talk and communicate supportivily
  • to help rebuild
    • to provide resources that one can spare to help the injured and impacted re-build and find ways to continue through difficulties
      • monetary
      • physically
      • resouces
  • to show oneness with the people in this tragic circumstance
    • to indicate it is not God's vengeance or a result of any bad deeds and not be crass

I also believe that with this tragic situation fresh in our senses perhaps it is worth reflecting on how your faith relates to such situations.

Me being a Sikh will submit the following most humbly with others to correct me for any wrong (I apologize ahead!) or add as appropriate,


Comments on relationship to the tragic Japan 2011 Earthquake:

• It is the same truth/God that is functioning in all as one,
  • the people who passed away, the injured, the not injured and all of the non-physically injured (relatives of injured, spiritually, morally or other ways impacted by the event) whether they are in Japan or anywhere else
  • We are with them and they are with us
  • We are all one with everything around us and are part of it
• The greater truth that prevails in the whole Universe acts without fear,
  • • • The cruel as it may seem to us mortals, the greater truth that is the creator and purveyor of the Universe continues to proceed in creation and subsistence without fear and per the higher truth that in such times is very hard for us mortals to understand as it is,
    • Very painful
    • It is belief shaking
      • How can a fair God do such to innocent men, women, children and life!
    • However the fearless one being the creator of all that are impacted and of all many more that were not impacted, cannot be classified to be good or bad

• The greater truth that prevails in the whole Universe acts without animosity,
  • The one creator present in one and all is,
  • • not vengeful
    • friend of one (who survived) and enemy of another (injured or who died)
    • did not kill/injure through animosity,
      • so called "bad"
      • so called "ones with bad Karma"
      • So called bad who may be classified by some (not per Sikhism) to have done "bad in previous incarnations" or curse
      • so called bad who did bad deeds and reaping fruit

• The greater truth that prevails in the whole Universe being timeless,
  • As part of the understanding that one may have Sikhism projects that the one truth is not,
    • completely describable
    • is beyond complete understanding
    • ,and is, limitless.
  • Hence for us as in our alive stage as humans,
    • We may not fully understand,
      • Reasons for such (tragic) events
      • The timing of such (tragic) events
      • The relationship of such (tragic) events to the universe as one
        • As the transformation of one is for ever continuing in a timeless fashion

Bottomline for Sikhism:

• Without regard to race, religion or creed,

• • Hard as it is, one has to accept
  • We all being one need to feel the pain of others
  • We all being one need to do what we can to help

In the above spirit I submit my humble prayers, as a minimum, as a Sikh.

Sat Sri Akal.

 
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Ambarsaria ji,

Very well put. Reading your post, well, brought more tears. We have been following the events in Japan very closely. It's a tragic loss. Thank you for your tribute to all involved in this tragedy. I really could not have said it better than that.

To be clear on this issue and others one has to undeerstand the Sikh notion of Karma.

It's not about bad deeds or good deeds. We have to accept the laws of nature, and it is up to us to be able to help ourselves within the constraints of these laws and the "Ultimate Reality" "Onkar" gives us the ability to work within these contraints and help our selves within them.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/interfaith-dialogues/34847-tragic-earthquake-japan-fate-karma-living.html
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34847

This could have been worse if people had not been rescued, Buildings were not earthquake proofed etc, all abilities bestowed to us through "Onkar"

Ambarsaria ji

I believe I share the same bottom line with you. It is important to know about the suffering of the people of Japan, so that as Sikhs we are spurred to help alleviate that suffering, however we are able to do so.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34847

Thanks

Natural catastrophes lead us to seek answers regarding Karma. So it is good to understand your roots which are spiritual in nature. The human body and the physical world is a temporary world. What doesn't change is our Soul which is seated within the physical body. The body is one day going to perish anyway, whether it is caused by natural disasters, road accidents, or diseases. We just have to understand that permanent nature of ourselves. In Gauri Sukhmani M.5 that's all we can say:-
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34847
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=34847
The One Lord Himself destroys and also preserves (marai rakhai eko aap)
Nothing at all is in the hands of mortal beings (manukh kai kich nahi haath)

Why did "Onkar" not create a more perfect universe, devoid of all these earth-quacks and other such disasters?
The answer that "we cannot understand His leela" does not seem much convincing.
Can any one give a simple answer, without play of words, that a common person can understand.

I agree with Randip ji who has said, But I also think that today we see in stark terms what is in metaphor "the terrible world ocean." We are very small. We think we are much greater and more important than we are. We are part of the creation which is always being created, destroyed and re-created. I also agree with NamJap on this point "understand your roots which are spiritual in nature." That is what gives us the advantage of a permanent and indestructible consciousness, and provides deliverance from being victims, only victims, of natural forces. It is not to say that there will be no suffering. The mind suffers, the body suffers. Spirit does not have to suffer.

ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਭੈ ਕਾ ਬੋਹਿਥਾ ਨਦਰੀ ਪਾਰਿ ਉਤਾਰੁ ॥੪॥
Sathigur Bhai Kaa Bohithhaa Nadharee Paar Outhaar ||4||
The True Guru is the only boat on this terrifying ocean. His Glance of Grace carries us across. ||4||

Randip Singh ji I thank you for an excellent point posted so succinctly. As my normal self, I want to add some comments probably not as succinct but in terms of dialog.

Whereas Sikhism teaches us about the single (oneness) truth/ocean (nature, God) that we reside in, there are no limits placed on our thinking or wherewithals to live healthier, more safely or more happily within it in consonance with everything in the Universe. Can we perceive everything, Can we predict everything, Can we recognize everything, ….! The answer probably is we cannot. Are we getting better at it? The answer probably is yes? Are we getting better at it through understanding spirituality (say Sikhism) and Science (science is not a conflict for Sikhism)? My answer would be, yes we are, on both counts.

Reasons why I believe like Randip Singh ji in the positive evolution of oneness (consistent with Sikhism principles as Sikhism is not benign towards Science but supports us to use all the gifts we have towards betterment),

• Plagues used to kill millions, where are we now!
• Cholera used to kill millions more, where are we now!
• Infections used to kill millions, antibiotics and care where are we now!
• Smallpox used to infect, disfigure and make people extremely sick, where are we now!
• As Randip Singh ji stated specific to Earthquakes, such and earth quake in old days on a cold night in an Indian village with mud-houses (say the great earthquake in Quetta, Pakistan early last century) would have killed nearly 100% of the villages, where are we now!

So is God/oneness/nature/"the truth" that Sikhism espouses going to give you a perfect world on a platter, the answer is no. But the same has given us the wisdom to understand and work towards one.

Any comments!

Regards to all.

Sat Sri Akal.

Namjap ji thanks for your comments.

Being true to myself and saying what I think, I find the following in your post as hocus-pocus as you write,


Neither the physical nor the spiritual as one entity “me”, “you” is indestructible or permanent. My understanding is that both are “transformational”.

• Physically we will merge back into the elements or “transform” back into where we came from in a long series of transformations of many other animate and in-animate elements
  • We become dust and in-animates
  • Parts of us become vegetation or part of such transformation
  • Parts of us become part of different life forms
    • Including be part of other human beings through the food chain

Budha Hoya Sheikh Farid.....

• Spiritually or Soul (soul for me is understanding of being) wise we,
  • We leave our imprints in part on our children
  • We leave imprints on relatives and neighbors “souls” and the related changes therein
  • We leave our impacts on other souls through our interactions be those positive or negative
  • The chances of an “identical soul” of “you”, “me”, “others” in like form are “nil”
    • But then again why should it be a worry as we are all one and the oneness was there before our birth and will be there

Dekh Bande Ke Bhag | Read Bhagat Farid Bani with Bhai Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale | Gurbani


Regards.

Sat Sri Akal.