Good Or Bad Future

Lots of people want to know their own future if it will be good or bad. I always say to them, “Don’t worry about the future because it hasn’t come yet. What we must do is concentrate on what is happening here, now”. Some seem to understand and do their job, but some still insist on knowing what will be going on in the future. The simple answer that I give to those who still want to know is, what you are doing now will be your future; good actions will lead to a good future and bad actions will lead to a bad future. “So don’t worry if you are doing good actions now, it is sure that your future is going to be good”, are my words.

This question was also asked of the Buddha when he was staying at Village Sala. He answered, “Good actions produce good results and bad actions produce bad results”. What did the Buddha mean by good or bad actions? He explained that good actions meant mental, verbal and physical activities not harmful of oneself or others and which were based on wisdom. On the contrary, if bad actions were performed, they were harmful to oneself and others and were based on ignorance.

It is clear that good causes produce good effects and bad causes produce bad effects; this is the law of cause and effect, which the Buddha discovered and taught the world. I will say again and again, if I am asked about this; don’t worry about the future you just take responsibility for your duties here and now. Believe it or not ‘Do good and achieve good, do bad and achieve bad’. That is the simple law you can prove for yourself.

Saleyya Sutta