Why do people have such differing events and circumstances to deal with in their lives? What are the meanings of diseases, illnesses, accidents, and natural disasters? From his clairvoyant spiritual research, Rudolf Steiner speaks of karma, or destiny, as a reality -- an actual scientific phenomenon that can and should be understood today. He shows how, through a comprehension of karma, a person can begin to answer the inevitable questions that arise when they begin seriously to seek the meaning and purpose of life. We create our own karma in all areas of existence, says Steiner, laying the foundation in one incarnation for the following one. We cannot seek for a complete pattern or meaning in one earthly life but must begin to take into account many lives on earth. He indicates that although we may not be aware of particular causes, the knowledge that a resolution of our own self-induced karma is in process can help to bring both an acceptance and a sense of purpose into our present lives.