Your actions have an impact. The quality of the mind with which you act is going to have an impact on the results of that action. It’s possible to learn from your mistakes. And you do have freedom of choice.

"There are lots of ways that we can develop doubts and uncertainty about the path. So let’s look at how the Buddha said to deal with uncertainty.

First, of course, you ask yourself: What are you being asked to believe? You’re being asked to believe that your actions have an impact. That the quality of the mind with which you act is going to have an impact on the results of that action. That it’s possible to learn from your mistakes. And that you do have freedom of choice.

These are all fairly commonsensical propositions. Where the Buddha is asking you to take this a little bit further than normal common sense, of course, is that by following this principle you can go all the way to true happiness, a happiness that won’t change."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Strengthening Conviction"

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