The Meaning of Not Being Ignorant of Cause and Effect

"Mei" (obscured) means dim, vague, and darkened. Not being obscured means the mind is clear and lucid, without confusion about cause and effect. The bodhisattva-mahāsattvas are all very clear about cause and effect, because they possess the seed-wisdom (bīla-jñāna) of Consciousness-Only, and know with complete clarity that at the very moment each karmic action is performed, the seeds are stored into the tathāgatagarbha, and when the conditions ripen, there will surely be karmic retribution. Bodhisattvas who lack the seed-wisdom of Consciousness-Only, as well as ordinary bodhisattvas, are not very clear about this matter, so sometimes they still harbor a fluke mentality and commit some unwholesome karma. Because the bodhisattvas have not eradicated ignorance completely, their bodily, verbal, and mental actions remain within cause and effect and cannot escape the law of cause and effect.