Cattāri Brahmavihārā

Here’s a new rule to help keep myself from making bad decisions when my mind is otherwise clouded by delusion or inflamed by lust or anger: only do those things that you feel no remorse at all about.

I have never once felt that I would regret giving. I have never once felt that I would be ashamed for having bitten my tongue. I have, however, felt a pang of regret for having broken my fast, for having given in to a desire, for having given the last word.

Life is so short and we pave our way to our next destination with the quality of our thoughts, words and deeds. Frankly, I don’t want to roll the dice and take my chances with questionable kamma. I want to ensure I create the best possible conditions for practice for tomorrow and beyond.

And, even if you don’t have the saddhā to take up this Buddhist Pascal’s wager, anyone with a modicum of awareness of their own internal life can see how uncomfortable it is to live with remorse and regret.