Is the universe just?

[anagogy]

Is the universe a fair and just place? Does everyone get exactly what they deserve, good and bad? Are we fully responsible for everything in our lives? Does 'stuff' just happen sometimes that is completely out of our control/power? Thank you

I think that everything balances out in the end. But as Guardian noted, it isn't the kind of justice that happens swiftly from our human perspective. Also, the balance isn't always what human beings would judge as "balance" or "justice".

The way karma works, from my perspective is: whatever you do that brings you out of alignment with unity, you then automatically, and unconsciously, project those necessary experiences into your future that will bring you back into alignment with unity.

It is much like a pond with a rock tossed in it. The ripples eventually balance out, until all is still again.

Now, there are different ways of balancing this karma. There is an STS way and an STO way, which are completely opposite of one another.

From the STS perspective, they take from others, and the universe continuously takes from them to balance this. Which they try to balance or offset by taking even more from others. Taking from others is like affirming your own lack, and this is what manifests the need to keep taking from others. It perpetuates the thoughtform. The pull upon others is constant. But that is the picnic they choose. As strange and foreign as this may sound to the positively polarized here, this is their way of balancing their natures -- by extreme absorption of prana from others.

From the STO perspective, they give to others, and the universe gives back to them in direct proportion. Giving to others is an affirmation of abundance (it affirms you have something to give). That is how the karma balances for positive acts. They receive their energy from the universe.

This is a very simplified explanation, but how it works in a nutshell.