Do not spend time wondering

about another’s karmic consequences. 

Musing over others’ intentions and resultant karmic results may seem intriguing, even worthwhile. But aside from not being our business, we do not know enough about the other person. For one thing, we would need to know the person’s intentions. But having experienced how difficult unearthing our own intentions has proven, how can we even hope to detect someone else’s? It would all turn into wandering thoughts.

A much wiser use of time would be examining why we act as we do, investigating layer by layer, like peeling an onion.

Do I detect some resentment, which obstructed my helpfulness?

Were my actions half-hearted because I was indifferent?

Were they selfish?

Did I mean to help but negligently made mistakes? Since we will have to live with our karmic results, learning why we act the way we do—and how to change for the better—is what matters to an awakening person.