The results of virtuous actions
again from ‘The Precious Vase’:
"There are four types of results that can manifest as the fruit of virtuous actions: the virtuous result that corresponds to merit (or complete ripening); the virtuous result that corresponds to the cause; the conditioning result; the result that produces the individual’s activity.
By ‘virtuous result that corresponds to merit’ is meant the force that brings about rebirth among Humans, Asuras and Devas of the world of desire according to accumulation, respectively, of small, medium or great merit. Above these thee types of retribution there is also the possibility of rebirth among the Devas of higher dimensions of existence (the form and formless worlds), as a result of the imperturbable karma deriving from the practice of meditative stability.
The ‘virtuous result that corresponds to the cause in action’ manifests in a person’s natural predilection, in whichever of the higher states they are reborn, to carry out good deeds enthusiastically and to refrain from acting in negative manner.
'Virtuous result that corresponds to the cause in experience' means the concurrence of ten positive circumstances in life corresponding to (repudiation of) the respective non-virtuous actions:
- A long life and few illnesses as the result of not having killed other beings or tortured animals.
- Wealth and no disturbance from thieves or enemies in the case of not having stolen.
- A beautiful and virtuous consort and few enemies by having abstained from sexual misconduct.
- Being loved and praised by all by not having lied.
- Being respected by one’s acquaintances by having abstained from slandering.
- Always being treated with kindness by having abstained from speaking in an offensive way.
- Being listened to with attention and consideration by having abstained from chattering in vain.
- Easily accomplishing any aim by having abstained from craving.
- Never being subjected to bad deeds by having abstained from malevolence.
- Upholding right view that conforms to reality as the result of having renounced erroneous ideas.
As regards the conditioning result that determines the environment (of rebirth), one is reborn in pleasant places that are the opposite of those usually listed as congruous with the ten non-virtuous actions.
The result that produces the individual’s activity, instead, manifests in the increase of the particular virtuous action in which one has engaged in the past, in order to accumulate ever greater merit.”
The quotation comes from the book
‘The Precious Vase’
by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu