Karma’s Cosmic Comedy

Aunt Selvi’s Guide To Balancing Life Budgets.

Here’s a conversational take on The Karma Factor through Aunt Selvi’s eyes, in her witty yet wise way:

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“Now listen up, my dears,” Aunt Selvi began, waving her knitting needles for emphasis, “Life isn’t some endless buffet where you can pile up the dessert plates and avoid the spinach forever. No, no. Each of us is born with a karmic balance – a cosmic bank account, if you will. And much like the way you lot squander your money on shoes and gadgets, we often spend all our karmic funds on one thing.”

Doris raised an eyebrow, “Like what, Aunty?”

“Money, my child! The root of all sleepless nights,” Aunt Selvi said, narrowing her eyes. “Some people throw all their energy into making more and more of it. But what happens when you do that? Hmm? The karmic balance goes out of whack! You neglect other parts of your life – maybe your health, your family – and soon you’ve got bigger problems than just a leaky wallet.”

Gus leaned in, intrigued. “So, what do we do, Aunty? How do we fix this karmic balance thing?”

“Ah! It’s not about fixing it like some broken radio, my boy,” Aunt Selvi chuckled. “It’s about understanding the karmic lesson. That’s where the real trick lies. The universe doesn’t just throw things at you for fun. It keeps sending you the same lesson, wrapped in different situations, until you finally get the hint. Like that same old song on repeat until it finally clicks in your thick head.”

Andy groaned, “You mean like when I keep dating the same kind of girl and wondering why it always ends badly?”

“Exactly, dear!” Aunt Selvi grinned. “But instead of blaming the girl or the situation, you should be asking yourself, what am I doing that keeps bringing me back here? The minute you get it, the whole matrix changes. It’s like magic! The bearer of bad news – whether it’s a breakup, an illness, or a business disaster – isn’t the enemy. They’re just the universe’s very persistent messenger.”

Dahlia, always the deep thinker, frowned. “So, Aunty, are you saying we can’t intervene in anyone else’s fate?”

“Well, not exactly, child. You can’t rewrite someone’s karmic script, but you can offer them some insights to make the journey a little smoother. You know, like giving them an umbrella when it’s raining but not stopping the rain itself.”

“But what’s a karmic lesson, really?” Doris piped up.

“Oh, it all goes back to good ol’ Sanskrit,” Aunt Selvi nodded wisely. “The word ‘karma’ comes from ‘krit,’ meaning action. It’s not just about understanding something – you have to act on it. Life’s not chaotic, my dear; it’s cosmic! Everything is governed by laws, though not the kind you can write on a math exam. It’s all about quality, not quantity. Like my mother always said, the equation has to balance. If you pour too much into one side, the other is bound to suffer.”

“That’s where the tough times come in, isn’t it?” Doris mused.

“Precisely,” Aunt Selvi smiled. “Opportunity doesn’t always knock with a bouquet of roses. Sometimes it feels more like a swift kick in the rear! It’s the hard moments – the job losses, the heartbreaks – that force us to change, to shed our old skin, like a snake. And let me tell you, that process isn’t always pleasant. Sometimes, it’s so painful you might end up seeing a psychiatrist.”

Gus smirked. “Sounds like fun, Aunty.”

“Oh, don’t be cheeky, Gus!” Aunt Selvi snapped playfully. “We all have those ‘why me’ moments, but it’s in those very moments that you need to ask, what is this teaching me? The world is full of people who mirror your own issues back at you. You think you’re being picked on? Ha! The universe is just holding up a mirror.”

Andy scratched his head, “So, how do we deal with it? What’s the right way?”

Aunt Selvi’s eyes sparkled, “Step one, my dears, is recognition. Accept the task at hand without anger. The bearer of bad news isn’t the villain – it’s your own choices that led you here. Blaming your toxic spouse or business partner won’t solve a thing. Step two is understanding, how did I contribute to this problem? Step three – once you’ve acknowledged your part – is figuring out how to turn that trait into something useful for everyone involved. And finally, step four: act! Don’t just sit around moping.”

“And what stops us from doing that?” Dahlia asked.

“Well, entitlement, for one,” Aunt Selvi sighed. “We’ve all grown up thinking we deserve the best without lifting a finger for it. And that’s the problem with today’s education system too. They don’t teach us to deal with failure. Our parents push us to compete and impress the world on social media, but we’ve forgotten the real purpose behind it all. Instead, we’re borrowing mantras from new-age gurus.”

She glanced around at the eager faces. “But remember this, my dears. Life isn’t about staying on top or showing off your successes. It’s about facing the karmic lessons with grace, learning from them, and acting wisely. Do that, and you’ll balance your karmic account before you know it.”