“Metal that is malleable doesn’t have to undergo treatment by fire. Likewise, a wise person aware of his own strengths and weaknesses and that of others bows down to the more capable and powerful. He does not pick unnecessary fights and saves himself from needless suffering.” — Vidur Niti (Mahabharata Unravelled II)
What has getting into a fight with someone of more influence or physical strength got you? It has only sapped you of life—you’re a little closer to death and no wiser for learning.
And which is the most powerful entity? Karma. But we want to fight it. We find it unfair to be punished for the past sins we don’t remember. (Never mind being rewarded for deeds we don’t remember. For instance, most of us have done nothing to contribute to making the luxuries that we enjoy.)
Karma is neither a bitch nor is it friendly; it’s indifferent. What you sow you reap. This means while you’re suffering and getting rewarded for your past actions, practicing dharma today will mean you enjoy good karma later. In effect, your future karma lies in your hands.
Fighting against this law of karma means you’re wasting energy that you can otherwise invest in evolvement. And evolvement demands struggle—it’s how a single-celled amoeba became a trillion-celled human being.
Pain is inevitable, but needless suffering is optional.