It’s hard to believe, but today I went out for a meal and, on the way home, I spotted a river rat. It ran off and hid beside an orange buoy.

I pulled over and watched it for quite a while. It felt like I was watching a nature documentary. The little rat kept grooming itself, licking its fur and cleaning its body.

I wasn't high or anything, but for some reason it was surprisingly relaxing to watch. It made me feel both affection and sympathy at the same time.

Its fur looked as though it was constantly wet, almost as if it had been soaked in oil. No matter how much it cleaned itself, it still seemed damp.

Every living being carries its own karma. In my view, that is why we are born—to face and repay the consequences of our past actions. Everything has a cause and a reason behind it. When we encounter pain or suffering that seems unfair or meaningless, we should remember that it is the result of causes and actions, whether we understand them or not.