The Meaning of Unobscured Karma

Ignorance means being dim, vague, and obscured. Non-ignorance means having a clear and bright mind, free from confusion regarding cause and effect. Bodhisattva Mahasattvas possess a very clear understanding of cause and effect because they have the wisdom of consciousness-only seeds. They know with absolute clarity that the moment any karmic action is committed, the seed is simultaneously stored in the tathagatagarbha, and when conditions ripen, retribution is inevitable. Bodhisattvas without the wisdom of consciousness-only seeds and ordinary Bodhisattvas are not entirely clear about this matter, so they sometimes act with a sense of luck, committing some unwholesome karma. Because Bodhisattvas have not yet completely eradicated ignorance, their actions of body, speech, and mind remain within the realm of cause and effect and cannot transcend the law of karma.