ABHIDHAMMA IN DAILY LIFE - Abhidhamma.com

(b) Feeble or minor kamma.
Sufficient means (Payoga sampatti) cannot stop the bad effects of strong unwholesome kamma.
It can only soften the blow to some extent.
Example - For example King Ajatashatru killed his father. For this serious crime of patricide
he was bound to suffer in Avici Hell. His good qualities, however vigorous, cannot save his fate.
Yet, due to his repentance and devotion to the Buddha, he was penalized in Udassa Niraya (a
lesser hell) and suffered less than his due. Thus even the greatest evil can be mitigated by
sufficient good qualities.
Therefore if your evil deeds are not as bad as Ajasattu, you can lessen or stop the bad kamma
from fruition. If you have done evil deeds such as abusing your teachers, showing disrespect to
parents and elders, slandering virtuous persons, you can stop the coming evil consequences by
mindfulness and sincere repentance.
You can nullify the evil consequences by prostrating in apology before them or, if they are dead,
by doing the same at their graves. If you repentance and apologies are sincere, your good
behavior will ward off the impending evil results.
Similarly, feeble bad kamma can be abrogated by greater good kamma here and now. Monks
who have transgressed Vinaya rules of the lesser kind can rectify their misdeeds by following
repentance procedures outlined by the Buddha. Thus even the effects of some moderately evil
kamma can be stopped by the sufficient means - good effort, wisdom and diligence..
7.2.12.9 Sufficient means Brings Prosperity
People who have no faith in the Three Jewels also have accumulated merits because they surely
had done good in their past existences. This knowledge, their perseverance and their diligence
are praiseworthy. In addition to the welfare of the individual, they exert great effort to defend
their country through science and high technology. (although some Buddhists severely criticize
their endeavors as being unwholesome), no one can deny that these efforts bring about economic
prosperity and social development.
7.2.12.10 Health Through Sufficient Means - Payoga Sampatti
Human beings born to this world are accompanied by both wholesome kamma, which brings
good health, as well as unwholesome kamma, which brings ill health. Conforming to health
disciplines, personal hygiene, regular exercise and sufficient rest and sleep, adequate medical
care, all amounts to sufficient means leads to good health. For those with such deficient means,
their past wholesome kamma will also take effect and enhance their physical well-being.
Hence sufficient means is the prime factor for wholesome kamma to bear good fruits. Due to
sufficient means one can gain knowledge, marry a worthy partner, get good friends and teachers
and acquire wealth and status. It can also assist in the fulfilling of perfections, which pave the
way to Nibbána. In the constituents of sufficient means, knowledge is the first requirement.
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