Evolution of love

Path To Enlightenment

"Are thought projections and awareness (rigpa) the same? No they are not the same, because projections move and awareness (rigpa) does not".

In the bardo, even if we regret all our negative actions, it is too late: karma has been accumulated and nothing can stop us falling, like a stone thrown into the air. We cannot reverse the process. So it is now that we must be able to recognize and discern positive and negative actions. Even if a positive action seems insignificant, we should do it. Even if a negative action seems trivial, we should avoid it. Water dripping for a long time can fill a huge basin; a single spark can set fire to a mountain of grass. Likewise, every action has its result. Never think that a minor action leaves no trace.
On the other hand, we should not think that the negative actions we have done need mark us forever. However heavy our negative actions may be, they can be purified. There is nothing that cannot be purified. So we must regret and repair all our negative actions. As we have said, since small drops of water can fill a huge vessel, we must constantly endeavor in daily life to use our body, speech and mind for positive actions. This will build up an accumulation of merit and virtue that will help us when we are faced with the fear of death.
The magnitude of positive and negative actions does not depend upon how they appear from outside. It is easy to accumulate great positive karma or great negative karma with a small action. It all depends upon our intention or attitude. For example, to help someone in a small way, but with great loving-kindness, will accumulate a lot of positive karma. Likewise, a single word, easily uttered, may accumulate boundless negative karma if, for instance, it is used to criticize a Bodhisattva.