QA on racism Q 8 How do we balance knowing that we are not the bady and processing bodily pains?

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Question:
In one of our previous sessions, we discussed the concept of karma. You explained how understanding karma can help us not become hard-hearted. But how does that apply when we see injustices in the world — like in the case of George Floyd?
From a karmic perspective, one might say he died because of his karma, and those involved would have been punished due to their karma as well. But doesn’t that view risk making us emotionally indifferent or hard-hearted toward suffering and injustice? Is karma a cause of racism? How do we process such events without becoming callous?

Answer:
Thank you for this thoughtful question.

If everything happens due to karma, how do we avoid becoming hard-hearted or passive when we see injustice and suffering? This is where the balance between karma (destiny) and dharma (duty) becomes essential.

Let me explain this with an incident from the Mahabharata. Before the Kurukshetra war, the sage Vyasa comes to Dhritarashtra and advises him: “Stop your son Duryodhana from antagonizing the Pandavas. Let them have their share of the kingdom and live peacefully.” Dhritarashtra doesn’t listen. The war happens, and later, when he is grieving the loss of all his sons, Vyasa again comes and tells him, “This was destined.”

Dhritarashtra is confused — before the war, Vyasa told him to act and prevent it. Now, after the war, Vyasa is telling him it was destined. Isn’t that contradictory?

The point here is:

• Before an event occurs, we must act responsibly, focusing on our dharma — our duty.
• After the event occurs, especially when it causes pain or loss, the understanding of karma can help us find acceptance and move forward without being consumed by guilt or grief.

So, philosophical knowledge — like that of karma — is not meant to paralyze action, but to empower it. It gives us perspective:

• Before: “What can I do to prevent wrong and act rightly?”
• After: “Now that this has happened, what is the best way to respond, heal, and grow?”

Coming to the George Floyd incident — it was a horrific, unjust act. From a karmic standpoint, yes, one could say that people suffer due to their past actions. But karma is never a justification for injustice. The police officers who acted unjustly must be held accountable. Justice, law, and reform are part of societal dharma — and upholding dharma is the responsibility of individuals and institutions.

So for the family of George Floyd or society at large, understanding karma can offer closure: “This tragedy has occurred; let us now heal, let us grow.” But karma should never be used before the event as a license to ignore or enable wrongdoing.

We must always see karma in light of dharma. Otherwise, karma can make us fatalistic or hard-hearted. Dharma reminds us that we have a role to play — whether it’s speaking out, supporting justice, or offering compassion.

Also, your question touches on how we balance spiritual identity (we are not the body) with bodily experience (we feel pain, we see injustice). Being spiritually aware doesn’t mean ignoring bodily or emotional experiences. Rather, it means processing them through the lens of our higher purpose.

So, to summarize:

• Karma explains why something may have happened.
• Dharma tells us what we should do now.
• Spiritual knowledge helps us rise above resentment or passivity and act with responsibility and compassion.

Thank you.