16th Contemplation: General Concepts of Karma

Happiness comes solely from positive or virtuous acts.

Suffering comes only from negative or harmful actions.

Since virtuous and harmful actions ripen inevitably in this way,

I should adopt some actions and abandon others.

Whether my actions are virtuous or negative,

at the time of the causal act,

what I do may be minor.

But at the time of ripening of the act,

the result may increase in magnitude.

The smallest increases are a hundred or a thousand-fold.

The largest increases are immeasurable.

Therefore, giving up negative acts and adopting positive ones is essential.

If I do not take steps to repair harmful actions committed,

the imprints of those acts will not diminish in the least

until the action ripens fully as an effect.

If I have not done something,

it is impossible for the corresponding karma to arise in y continuum.

Therefore, it is vital to be careful

about what I do and what I avoid.

CalmAbiding