This question has been bothering people for centuries. It is almost impossible to answer. We can only guess and hope to find out someday.
What we know, however, is that the question of “why bad things happen to good people” affects not just those who have gone through a tragedy but also those who’ve never experienced anything close to it. It’s a question so profound and so universal that it touches the life of every single one of us at some point in our lives – it could be a moment of real pain or a time when we’re feeling great and celebrating something great happening in our lives.
We all have to face the idea that bad things are going to happen in our lives. It’s inevitable, but difficult to wrap your head around when it happens. When you’re faced with the question “why does (God) allow bad things happen to good people?”, you might be tempted to think that God is not good, or that there is no God at all. A lot of people think it’s unfair when bad things happen and good people suffer, but when we look at the bigger picture, we see that God has a plan and his plan may not be what we want.
When you see something seemingly “bad” happen to seemingly “good” people, it’s easy for us to be wrapped up with our judgement about what’s going on in that moment based on our experiences and the stories you’ve been told when we were a child. The question of why is a fair question. There’s a poet called Rumi, in one of his poems he says, “There is a place beyond good and evil. I will meet you there.” He’s preparing his reader for a conversation where they can put aside disagreements & preconceptions. Good and evil are nothing more than abstract concepts that humanity has invented to help us understand the world around us. Technology is made possible by our understanding of dualism; without it, technology would not exist. Our lives are filled with dualism– the sun and the moon, 0’s and 1’s (contrasting electrical signals in technology), guiding us into this time that we’re able to use internet.
I think dualism is a very interesting idea and I understand why many people subscribe to it. And although my personal stance on the matter is unconvincing, I believe that you should explore this viewpoint as well as others perspectives. Wisdom, psychology, philosophy and religion can teach us a lot about life and from them we find true meaning that transcends beyond simple beliefs. It’s all these- To understand why we’re being casted out to the garden of Eden by taking the wisdom, and how it’s a blessing in disguise, then please- Understand. In Eden, life is beautiful. There are two of each plant and all your crops are gracingfully flourishing. Life’s perfect because it always is easy. But the reason for this happiness is Nirvana because Adam & Eve have yet to experience wisdom.They’re like pigs in slob, they’re happy. There is a level of ignorance associated with livestock animals that we got rid of by eating the apple.
How many people leave their lives in the past, wishing they could go back to this place. They yearn to go back where there’s no judgement of good and evil- but if they were genuinely good they wouldn’t even be considered. They are trying to get to heaven but fail to notice the world’s inherent nature or see things for what they are. If you’re up for it, you can be both objective and caring at the same time. This way you won’t worry about feeling bad feelings, and will also be open-minded enough to take in the positive aspects of every situation.
As the story goes, a snake (wisdom in many cultures). The snake’s symbolism has represented wisdom. One of the reasons why is because it can shed its part, can be over here & there by marking its path. Another reason is the stomach is close to the ground, but he can use his tail to raise his body up. That animal which symbolizes wisdom has thus come to these people who are not ashamed or dissociate from their bodies.
After they eat the apple, boom! Penis, vagina. Cover yourself up. Nothing, changed but their perspective and nothing in the world truly changed. They were ashamed to find the differences they weren’t able to see before. The wisdom gained from these differences allows us to create technology as well as make judgements.
When we say, bad things happen to good people, we’re negating the legitimacy of the notion that eating the fruit of good and evil somehow removed us from some level of joy that should be ever present on earth and in our life. It’s just as abstract as everything else. Heaven is an idea that is based on opposites. When we think of concepts such as good and bad, the Tao teaches us that opposed forces are essential for balance in the world. This can be hard to understand because our individual experiences have shown us different things, but it’s just the way things are. Tao also creates the way where there’re people who don’t believe in it.
We can’t escape judgment. But we can understand and experience the beauty of the world through understanding what’s happening. We might not be able to see it as it is, but we can learn what’s happening and come to a conclusion about how the world is formed. Good and wrong are two sides of one coin, we can’t have one without the other. If we only expect to have light on the day time, it would be an imbalance. If that was happening, on that sick sad day life would not happen. The night cools the day. Pain is a part of life and from a global perspective, different things happen to different people. That’s just the way it is. So when you experience difficult events, though they might be hard for you, remember that on a global scale, others have it far worse. If you understand that at the deepest level, every pain contains an equal amount of pleasure – one cannot exist without the other. If your life is currently not as good as it could be, there’s no point in wallowing and getting more and more depressed about it. Turn it around and find a sense of pleasure in all the bad things happening to you. The good thing about living through tough times is that you can always search for the positives. The same goes for prosperities – it’s important to be grateful for what you do have, so the next time it all turns sour, you’ll know how to cope. You don’t have to judge your actions, just take action on an impulse that feels right to you (eat a fruit for good karma, rather than thinking about what you’re fighting for). Just do it. Stop worrying about the judgements of others and let your heart lead the way.