Karma -from the root kri, "to do"- is the means by which you become the architect of your own destiny. The word karma literally means deed, but implies the entire cycle of cause and its effects. According to the law of karma, every human action -in thought, word, or deed- inevitably leads to results or consequences, good or bad, depending upon the quality of the action.
Karma deals with causality. A specific action leads to a specific result. A positive act will lead to a result of a positive nature, hence, to the experience of positive events, may it be in this life or in future ones. On the other hand, negative acts will unavoidably sooner or later lead to suffering. This happens of itself because the result will unavoidably correspond to the nature of the cause. For example, if you plant a seed, a certain kind of plant will grow from this. From a bean seed, a bean plant will grow; from an apple seed an apple tree will grow and not any other kind. The effects of a deed, word or thought, sometimes are immediate but in some cases many days, months, years or lifes must elapse till the precise moment determined by God comes about. Buddha said: "Our good and evil deeds follow us continually like shadows."
Kona, Karma is not necesarily a bad thing. Karma can take many lives to come back, Just because you friend was a good person now doesnt mean his time was not up. He will come back, as something better, thats the way Karma works. Death is not a bad thing in Eastern religions because you can (if you are a good person) come back as something better.
You have to see that. I am truly sorry for your loss. It's sad when young people are taken form this earth. It wasn't your fault or his, it was just his time. Remember the good things, and look for him in places you would have never looked before, you might just see him when you least expect it. My condolences to both you and his family.
Dec 2006 photo contest winner "Best Ass Shot"
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein