The Principle of Heavy Karmic Offenses Receiving Light Retribution

When sins from future lives are endured in this life, it all belongs to serious karma being lightly retributed. The better one cultivates, the earlier one undergoes the retribution for one's sins, and the less karmic interest accrues—it is a very good bargain. If you get into a car accident this life, you should think: How wonderful! In future lives I will not have to fall into hell to undergo retribution, or I will not have to die suddenly in the prime of life or suffer a shortened lifespan. If someone gives you a hard time, or wrongs and aggrieves you, or beats and scolds you, you should think like this: This person is truly good to me—hereafter I will not have to suffer major illnesses like cancer, or accidents like car crashes; the sins are being consumed and dissolved in this way—what a bargain. The small setbacks drawn forth by cultivation will avert great setbacks in future lives, and the great setbacks drawn forth by cultivation in this life will avert even greater setbacks in future lives, as well as calamities, illness and suffering, death, retribution in the three evil destinies, and so on—a very good bargain indeed. Therefore, no matter what, please continue to diligently apply effort to cultivate the Path.