When the Buddha is teaching karma, this is where the emphasis is — on what you’re doing right now, and on your ability to reflect on it and learn. He didn’t ask them first, “What kind of bad karma do you have in the past?”

"Think about it. When the Buddha taught people how to put an end to suffering, he didn’t ask them first, “What kind of bad karma do you have in the past? Only if you have no bad karma can I teach you.” That wasn’t his approach. His approach was based on the assumption everybody has bad karma, everybody has some good karma. That’s how you get into the human realm. The question is: What can you do in the present moment so that you don’t have to suffer from the bad karma, and not suffer even from the good karma? That’s where his emphasis is. When he’s teaching karma, this is where the emphasis is — on what you’re doing right now, and on your ability to reflect on it and learn."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Return of Wisdom for Dummies"

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