There’s not some arbitrary person up there who’s going to damn you forever for one little mistake, or praise or reward you for one little change of heart. Karma is a lot more fair in that area, and it gives you a chance to start over, start over, start over.

"Our culture is a very unforgiving one. We have one shot at making it in society, they usually say. Of course, it’s based on a religion that gives you one shot. You’ve got this one lifetime and then there’s going to be either eternal reward or eternal damnation. Which is a very unforgiving way of thinking.

This is one of the reasons why the Buddha’s teachings on rebirth are so helpful. If we don’t make it this time, we’ve got another chance. Now, the other chances may not come for a while. As the Buddha said, “Your chance of being reborn as a human being is right away is pretty slim.” But at least you’ve got more chances, and there’s not some arbitrary person up there who’s going to damn you forever for one little mistake, or praise or reward you for one little change of heart. Karma is a lot more fair in that area, and it gives you a chance to start over, start over, start over.

So learn to think in a way that “Okay, you make a mistake. Recognize it as a mistake but it’s not something that’s going to cause you trouble forever.” Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and then try better the next time. Try better the next time. Try to develop the ability to spring back and to cut through a lot of the recriminations that would otherwise tie you down."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "The Wisdom of Self-regulation"

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