If that first wrongdoing was itself the result of an earlier cause, what was the cause of that earlier cause? Where does the chain of karma ultimately begin?
These are assumptions, not facts. Suffering comes because of imperfections, limitations and attachments. Actions done under ignorance, attachments, desires etc bring pleasure and pain. Since no happiness that we get under the stress of desires can last, it leaves a trail of suffering. In the process, we learn, improve, grow, evolve, learning from mistakes through the consequences of actions. Thus we progress from life to life, from a crude, ignorant, arrogant brute towards a more and more refined, selfless, strong and wise, godlike human being. This is the law of karma. It has nothing to do with sin and guilt or reward and punishment. Some religions believe in these crude beliefs, but not Sanatana Dharma.
2. If nothing can happen without the will or permission of the Almighty, why does the Divine allow human beings to commit crimes and inflict suffering on others? If God has the power to prevent such actions, why are they permitted to occur?
Again, you have assumed things based on hearsay. Whoever tells you this foolish thing, ask him for the reference. If everything is the result of Divine Will, then we would be just automatons. That would mean there is no real free choice and no real human beings but puppets! Even the law of karma would have no meaning, no conscious choices and evolution.
This world is a play between the Divine Will and the human will. When the human will is aligned to the Divine Will, then life blossoms beautifully, evolves harmoniously. When it is not aligned due to selfishness and egoism, then the tendency to evil and its consequences increase.
To summarise, the law of karma is very simply learning and growing through the consequences and results. The law applies at every level from the most material to the psychological and the spiritual. The law is specifically for human beings because we can hasten or slow down our inner evolution by aligning or resisting the Divine Will and the true Impulsion in us.
Secondly, the Divine Will does not act freely in the world. It has deliberately given a relative freedom to man to make his choices and act and thereby learn and grow. We are not dolls in the hands of God but His children and He wants us to grow and become like Him. The law of karma is simply a process of schooling to grow up and not of reward and punishment.
Hope it is clear.
Affectionately,
Alok da
