Man Reaps What He Sows

Swami Sivananda: "The Lord does not create inequality. He does not make a man suffer and another man rejoice. He is the silent witness of all this. Man himself is the cause of what he has sown in previous births. The relentless work of the Law of Cause & Effect brings about pain and pleasure, misery and joy. Misery is the only purgation of past evil deeds. Mother Nature punishes in order that he might learn. She is not unkind either. Just think: Would you accuse a mother who beats her child to correct him and to mould his character? Similarly, you ought to be thankful to Mother Nature for enabling you to work out your own Karma by suffering in this birth. At the same time you should take care that you add no more to this load of Karma, by the awakening of the knowledge latent in you and by thus crossing over this ocean of Samsara."

(pgs. 14-15, Sermonettes of Swami Sivananda)