The universe is benevolent.
You may choose to believe it, or not. Your lack of belief wouldn’t alter the fact.
The benevolence of the universe refers to the universe’s neutrality towards you. At some point in your life, if things were just coming apart one after another, it was not because there was a vendetta out for you. Senseless accidents didn’t happen to you because you were singled out for punishment.
(Aside: My context here is the normal, ordinary human experience. While the universe remains neutral, stoic and detached from human affairs, the canvas expands when applied to collective events like genocides or devastating natural disasters. Through all such events- however senseless- the nature of the universe remains unaltered. It does not interfere in the lives and choices of humans.
It stands by stoically and lets us bear the consequences of our choices. Just as individual consequences arise from individual choices, so do collective consequences arise from collective choices. It can no longer stop us from doing what we are driven to than to insulate us from what follows choices that violate natural laws and principles.)
Benevolence doesn’t mean that the universe will violate natural laws or principles to accommodate your whims and desires. But if you obey its laws and are aligned to its principles, it does conspire to bring things together rather magically.
The belief your own North Star- in its validity and in your own ability to reach it- is bolstered by a belief in the benevolence of the universe. In fact, this belief is foundational to your belief in your own destiny. Your inner compass works perfectly in a climate of your belief that the universe is benevolent; a place which gives you a leg up when you need it the most- and when it is time to do so! (Yup, that’s the escape clause!)
This belief is a choice. Some people never acquire it; some hold it for a brief period of their youth and then trade it for chronic cynicism. For some blessed people, it is a flame that lights up their heart to the end of their days. Which one of these people you will be, is again a choice.
To believe in benevolence or not, that is the question.
We do not think that that tragedy is our natural state. We do not live in chronic dread of disaster. We do not expect disaster until we have specific reason to expect it, and when we encounter it, we are free to fight it. It is not happiness, but suffering, that we consider unnatural. It is not success, but calamity, that we regard as the abnormal exception in human life.
~Ayn Rand
Yes, the universe has been benevolent, if only we stop to receive in faith. The problem is we are fixated on the packaging more than the gift itself. Beautiful as always, Dagny.
You said it. If the package isn’t in our choice of colors, we pout and throw a tantrum. 😀
Thank you for reading Vini! 🙂
I have questions about this concept. I don’t buy it fully. What ‘consequence of your own action’ is it when a child is born where it is? Are you saying it chooses where to be born?
Shail, they say that before birth, a child chooses the parent she will be born to. Of course it may sound a tad bit woozy but I don’t find it woozy. It sounds inevitable if you believe that the soul has an agenda that continues from one life to another.
I read about it for the first time in Louise Hay’s book called, “You can heal your life”. She convinced me; we do choose our parents.
Ahh, that! I knew there was a catch 😉 Whenever people talk about the benevolent universe I ask this question and it comes back to this, that we choose. I was hoping there was some other answer 😉 So the whole theory is based on an unknown factor, that we made our choice before being born. That’s an easy and convenient way to explain the hardships faced by a lot of people.
That’s how I think of it. 🙂
Hope it is okay with you that I expressed my views
Shail, you are more than welcome to express your views. And if I’ve said something you can’t agree with, you can say it with gusto. I am not one of those fragile netizens who wilt at the first inkling of a disagreement. 😀
I very much agree with – “collective consequences arise from collective choices” and it has always been my belief. The problem with us is that we would never stop to intervene and as much as we try to fix the issues, they would become more grave!!!
Liked your yday’s post as well – AUTONOMOUS!!
It is always gratifying to find resonance with a reader. Thank you Hemant. 🙂
Interesting read, Dagny. Makes me want to deliberate on this perspective. Something akin to the Universe holding a mirror or the law of Karma. Hmmmm *going into deep thought*.
Universe holding a mirror is exactly the analogy that fits here. Thank you for summing it up so lucidly. 🙂
I have seen a lot of people blaming everything around them for things that go wrong in their lives…..I have also done that before….To realise that we reap what we sow is the key….sometimes we get exactly what we ask for and sometimes we get better…but we are so foccused on what we did not get that we fail to see the better….I realises that the hard way 🙂
I’ve now reached the place where I am convinced that I get exactly the thing I needed to take my life forward. Not that I don’t grumble, but it is a knee- jerk reaction.. 😀
I read your A post and this together. So so lovely! Yes it is our choice to believe in ourselves, our North Star and in the benevolence of the Universe!
Thank you so much for reading Aditi. 🙂
The Universe is benevolent if we believe so. Maybe there is also a reason that way we all behave the way we do.
And believing it to be so bring nothing but good to us. I sometimes believe it the best solution to existential angst! 😀
True 🙂
🙂
I partially agree to it. Yes it is benevolent and no it is not.I have seen the good, bad and ugly side of it and still don’t blame anyone and love life 🙂
Someday maybe we’ll discuss the part you DONT agree with. 😀
This is so complex…Is it only me who is finding it hard to comprehend? Dagny how do you write so beautifully that I am tempted to think , ponder and actually decide?
Naba, your comment is making me want to dance. Thank you sooooo much for the compliment sweetheart! 😀 😀
I have always found the Universe to be very benevolent. And as Vinita says, Faith is the key.
Faith is absolutely the key Cynthia. Thank you for coming over.. 🙂
Maybe it is just me, but at times I have problem believing in this benevolence.
I agree with the aspect of by itself, the universe being neutral. However when it comes to aspects like genocide, war, calamities.. what did the victims to owe such suffering?
One of these days we must thrash this subject out. I’m not saying I have all the answers, but I do have some of them. Would love to share them with you. 🙂
Like that quote from the Alchemist 🙂 if u truly believe in something, the universe will conspire to make it happen.
Yes. the universe is benevolent. Sometimes it feels otherwise. but our feeling doesn’t change the universe’s benevolence. We just need to wait for the phase to pass.
Your comment connected with me. As you said, we just need to wait for the phase to pass.
Thank you for coming over. 🙂
Nabanita you have a company here…. A poignant and a thought provoking post….
Thank you Rohan! 🙂
Hmmm…is it only because the universe is neutral that makes it benevolent? Or is there another power working too? Power of Grace? Now this may not really seem to us as Grace at the moment, especially when things aren’t going our way, or as per our whims and desires. But in essence that grace is always working for us to help us move forward as per the inner tuning of our natures. Your post is making me ponder more on this thought now…thanks Dagny!
The power of grace! What a beautiful expression and concept Beloo! Your comment has added immensely to the value of the post. Thank you sooo much! 🙂
Being benevolent is truly an art which many miss this days! To obey universe’s laws and believe in benevolence is tough to me too but I shall try. U for sure made me think !
I so glad Afshan. I struggle with Benevolence too, it isn’t easy to remember it always.
Thanks for coming over. 🙂
I believe it! If you look at the sum total of the tragedies and the sum total of all the good incidents that occur in an average lifetime, the scale definitely tilts towards the good!
Absolutely Roshni! 😀
I like to believe in karma, and that all the benevolence the universe gives me is in return for the benevolence I show the universe.
Rhi
scruffy-duck.net
I believe in Karma too. In addition I also believe that if you do a good turn to someone, your reward doesn’t necessarily come from that person. But you reward will surely come, from some other quarter perhaps.
Thanks for coming over. 🙂
I do believe the universe is benevolent, but on its own terms. Maybe I will ponder over it a bit more.
Let me know what conclusions you reach.:)
Thanks for coming over. 🙂
You words came at the right time to me. I am in a dilemma whether to believe in it or not. Beautiful take on B 🙂
Thank you! Glad this was of use to you. 🙂
Very cool B word. Something we should all strive for…the good. I love that Ayn Rand quote at the end too.
Thank you Heather! 🙂
Benevolence does sound like a noble concept but many times, I doubt the whole existence of it. They say everything balances out, I wonder if it really does.
If I look back on my own life Jas, I know it balances out completely. In fact, I feel I was more than compensated. I hope that raises your belief in it just a notch.
Thanks for coming over 🙂
I do believe that the Universe is benevolent. I also believe that the Universe delivers the people you need in your life. Sometimes, the rationale may take some time to become clear.
You couldn’t have said anything truer. When I look back, I am astounded how perfectly He brought people into my life two ticks before crises were to hit me between the eyes. Miraculous! Part of my serenity comes from that. I know someone will come along and help me clean up the next time the sh*t hits the fan. 🙂
That’s a beautiful thought provoking write up. The Universe does offer us a lot and i guess we miss the simple pleasure because we are so focussed on getting a larger chunk. Thanks!
Greedy little bunch, aren’t we? 🙂