Take as a working hypothesis that we get reborn based on our actions, rather than everything is beyond your power

"Even though you may not know that the Dhamma’s true, it makes sense both in pointing out the dangers and in pointing out the ways to avoid the dangers. In pointing out the dangers, the Buddha said we get reborn and it’s based on our actions. As we come to the practice we don’t know this for sure, but it’s a wise premise to take on as your working hypothesis.

As the Buddha pointed out many times, if you take on a hypothesis that says everything is beyond your power, you’re cutting off any possibility that you could learn or could develop a skill. So even though you don’t know that there’s rebirth and you don’t know that karma’s going to affect rebirth, it’s wise to take that on as a working hypothesis.

You can’t just say, “Well, I don’t know” and leave it at that, because every time you act, you’re making a calculation: “Is the effort that goes into this action going to be worth it in terms of the results I’ll get?” You have to make up your mind: Are you going to calculate the results only in this life time or are you going to take into consideration the possibility that they could lead into future lifetimes? So you can’t just say, “I don’t know,” and leave it at that. You have to make an assumption one way or the other.

And as the Buddha said, if you assume that your actions will have consequences leading not only in this lifetime but others — and that the consequences can be dire if you’re unskillful and very good if you’re skillful — you’re bound to act in more skillful ways. You’ll be a lot more careful in your actions. You have a basis for deciding what should and should not be done, and that, the Buddha said, gives you protection. Even if it turns out that the assumption is wrong, at least you behaved in a good way, in an honorable way. There’s a sense of self-worth that goes with that, right here in the present moment. And if it turns out that the assumption is true, then you’ve benefited both ways."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "In Heedfulness We Trust"

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