167. If anyone were to say that just as a person does a deed, so is their experience determined by it, and if this were true, then living the holy life would be impossible, there would be no opportunity for the overcoming of suffering. But if anyone were to say that a person does a deed that is to be experienced, so do they experience it, then living the holy life would be possible, there would be an opportunity for the ending of suffering.
For instance, a small evil deed done by a person may be experienced here in this life or perhaps not at all. Now, what sort of person commits a small evil that takes him to purgatory? Take a person who is careless in the development of body, speech and mind. They have not developed wisdom, they are insignificant, they have not developed themselves, their life is restricted, and they are miserable. Even a small evil deed may bring such a person to purgatory. Now, take the person who is careful in development of body, speech and mind. They have developed wisdom, they are not insignificant, they have developed themselves, their lives are unrestricted and they are immeasurable. For such a person, a small evil deed may be experienced here or perhaps not at all.
Suppose someone throws a lump of salt into a little cup of water. That water would be undrinkable. And why? Because the amount of water is small. Now, suppose someone throws a grain of salt in the River Ganges. That water would not be undrinkable. And why? Because the amount of water is great.
A.I,249 (AN 3.100)
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