Q & A with Robina

QUESTION

Dear Ven. Robina,

Sometimes I feel very sad, almost depressed, about the coronavirus crisis around the world, how people are getting poorer, the economy problems, how the politicians lie, how people die, how everything is getting worse. I try to see it as a result of the collective karma, but sometimes I don’t get it!

I don’t want to feed my mind with all the bad news I read in the newspapers or on TV, but it’s also the reality and I can’t stop reading or hearing it all. Should I stop hearing the news? 

I’ve been listening to your teachings – I have to tell you that it’s given me much energy to hear you again!

Thank you very much dear Ven. Robina!

Huge hug,

B

ANSWER

I’m happy to hear from you again, dearest B.

Yes, the suffering everywhere is overwhelming, and these days we hear and see it all the time.

The key to not getting depressed is the attitude of compassion: the brave attitude of the bodhisattvas who are determined to keep working doing what they can to help others. This is what is called great compassion: the courageous thought: “If I don’t do it, who will?”

If we have confidence in the view of karma, this can really help. The logic of karma is that whatever happens to everyone is necessarily the fruit of their past actions. But this goes for all the good things as well! We never ask why do good things happen — we just take them all for granted.

The basis of compassion for others is the law of karma — we are all so ignorant, suffering so much, and we just don’t realize we ourselves cause our own suffering. We should have such compassion for others because of this!

The more we ourselves live according to the view of karma, the more courage we have, the more optimism, because we know that there is no karma set in stone. We can change. This then increases our compassion for others and our wish to help them.

With this attitude we’re able to stay optimistic and to do whatever we can to help others. Have you noticed these days there are so many stories about the kind things that people are doing in the face of terrible difficulties? It’s always so inspiring. It seems that bad times can bring out the best in us. And just these stories help others so much!

As for continuing to listen to the news: if you really can’t cope, then, for sure, stop listening. That’s sensible. But, as I said, if you can be brave and try to think like the bodhisattvas, try to use it all as the impetus for your practice: “I must continue to do my best, to work on my mind, to lessen my own suffering, then I can do what I can to help others.”

There’s no short cut, B. All we can do is keep moving, one step at a time, never giving up. Have confidence in our own amazing potential and in the potential of others.

Much love,

Robina