All that we experience today 

is the result of our past karmas. 

We often accept good results because we feel that we have earned them. But what of our suffering, especially when it threatens to overwhelm us? It’s due to our past karmas. Thoughts of angrily blaming ourselves, of terrible sadness over another insensitive act, of self-loathing. All are suffering. All are painful.The pain we bear is the maturing—the fruition—of past karmas.

We can allow pain to consume us, lashing out in confusion and anger. But it just creates more causes that will lead to further painful results.

More importantly, debilitating emotions will derail us from the path.

But pain need not cause more pain.

Instead of feeling overwhelmed, we can try to be grateful, understanding that this is an opportunity to sweep away some negative karma. Everything arises from the mind. So use misfortune to serve us, to clear away some of our negative karma. Viewed this way, adversity can provide us with the opportunity to grow.

And progress.