<p>When you start off you can keep contemplating on the virtues and adhere to them. If any is broken make a strong determination not to break it again. As you progress look at the sensation each volition creates. If then sensation is gross then the action that follows will also be a gross action (breaking a virtue) hence should be avoided. Repenting is not productive. At higher stages you will notice that repenting also causes gross sensations, but until then keep in mind that repenting aggravates the Karma.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-09T20:30:28.150Z
I am unfamiliar with the idea that repenting aggravates are karma. Is the point then to just move on, recommiting to the Five Precepts and applying our energy there instead?
douglaseye
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-09T20:31:04.037Z
'our karma,' I mean...
douglaseye
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-09T03:41:47.627Z
2015-02-09T03:41:47.627Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>Don't regret or repent! That is bad Karma. What you need to practice is <a href="http://www.vipassana.com/resources/8fp5.php" rel="nofollow">Samma Vayama(The right effort)</a> of the noble eightfold path.</p>

<p>The effort</p>

<p>(1) to prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome states;</p>

<p>(2) to abandon unwholesome states that have already arisen;</p>

<p>(3) to arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen;</p>

<p>(4) to maintain and perfect wholesome states already arisen.</p>

<p>Take the triple refuge and the five precepts every morning to remind yourself. Then at night, before going to sleep, reflect on the day's activities and see if you broke any precepts or if you can improve with Samma Vayama and try to do better next day. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-28T04:29:48.323Z
Why is regretting/repenting bad karma??
Gokul NC
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-28T06:03:55.420Z
It's a form of aversion
Sankha Kulathantille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-08T14:50:22.817Z
2015-02-09T01:04:07.953Z
2015-02-09T01:04:07.953Z
Sankha Kulathantille
<p>You put your concern into an abstract concept, which is a hindrance.
When you know, that you did something unhealthy/unwise etc. "make it good" where you did bad. I.e. if you'd hurt someone, tell them you know and how you feel about it now, no matter how their reaction might be. 
You can only solve problems on their very level but never in abstract religious-conceptual-whatever way (by putting a concrete situation into a philosophical or religious structure.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-29T17:56:42.277Z
2016-02-29T17:56:42.277Z
Najma
<ol>
<li>Sit with your emotions of regret and cry and truly feel the pain you caused others</li>
<li>Decide to fuel it into following the Noble Truths to live a balanced life and work towards the super awesome goals of Buddhism which are far beyond anything that any drug or thing or person can ever give you!</li>
<li>Make a small offering (a small bowl of rice will do, throw it in your garden the next morning) to your family ancestors, ghosts and the other beings and ask them for their help every night.</li>
<li>Forgive yourself when you have fully taken this decision to change and made this sacrifice</li>
<li>List the different things you want to change</li>
<li>Describe how each of these things are triggered and decide to avoid these triggers! (a certain social circle may not be seeing you in a while!)</li>
<li>Find a replacement habit for each of the things you want to change (for example, if you feel relaxed by drinking, listen to music instead and do deep breathing... it'll give you a similar feeling and will lead you towards even higher attainments--while enhancing your brain and body)</li>
<li>Keep monitoring your avoiding these triggers. Each day you can avoid these triggers (that are related to certain unbeneficial behaviors) is a day closer to permanent change! Studies show that if you can maintain a habit for 21 consecutive days, you basically have changed the way your brain works!</li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-09T03:50:54.327Z
2015-02-09T03:50:54.327Z
Med
<p>How should we proceed in our practice when we have broken some of the five precepts? I am anguished over this unwholesome behavior and the negative karma I created. Ajahn Brahm talks about self-forgiveness and the Buddha in the Sankha Sutta (the Conch Trumpet Sutta) talks about waking up from unwholesome behavior by refraining from such actions in the future. And of course, there is the story of Angulimala, so there are some examples in the teachings of people waking from patterns of negative karma-making. I suppose the only way to proceed is to maintain the precepts, deepen my practice and strive to create wholesome karma? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-08T03:16:01.563Z
You might find some useful info in books by [Noah Levine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Levine).
tkp
<karma><five-precepts>
What do we do when we've broken a precept?
# What do we do when we've broken a precept?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-08)

How should we proceed in our practice when we have broken some of the five precepts? I am anguished over this unwholesome behavior and the negative karma I created. Ajahn Brahm talks about self-forgiveness and the Buddha in the Sankha Sutta (the Conch Trumpet Sutta) talks about waking up from unwholesome behavior by refraining from such actions in the future. And of course, there is the story of Angulimala, so there are some examples in the teachings of people waking from patterns of negative karma-making. I suppose the only way to proceed is to maintain the precepts, deepen my practice and strive to create wholesome karma?

**Tags:** karma, five-precepts

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You might find some useful info in books by [Noah Levine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Levine).  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-02-09. Score: 1

When you start off you can keep contemplating on the virtues and adhere to them. If any is broken make a strong determination not to break it again. As you progress look at the sensation each volition creates. If then sensation is gross then the action that follows will also be a gross action (breaking a virtue) hence should be avoided. Repenting is not productive. At higher stages you will notice that repenting also causes gross sensations, but until then keep in mind that repenting aggravates the Karma.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I am unfamiliar with the idea that repenting aggravates are karma. Is the point then to just move on, recommiting to the Five Precepts and applying our energy there instead?  
> **username_0**: 'our karma,' I mean...  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-02-08. Score: 1

Don't regret or repent! That is bad Karma. What you need to practice is [Samma Vayama(The right effort)](http://www.vipassana.com/resources/8fp5.php) of the noble eightfold path.

The effort

(1) to prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome states;

(2) to abandon unwholesome states that have already arisen;

(3) to arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen;

(4) to maintain and perfect wholesome states already arisen.

Take the triple refuge and the five precepts every morning to remind yourself. Then at night, before going to sleep, reflect on the day's activities and see if you broke any precepts or if you can improve with Samma Vayama and try to do better next day.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Why is regretting/repenting bad karma??  
> **username_3**: It's a form of aversion  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-02-29. Score: 0

You put your concern into an abstract concept, which is a hindrance.
When you know, that you did something unhealthy/unwise etc. "make it good" where you did bad. I.e. if you'd hurt someone, tell them you know and how you feel about it now, no matter how their reaction might be.
You can only solve problems on their very level but never in abstract religious-conceptual-whatever way (by putting a concrete situation into a philosophical or religious structure.


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### Answer by username_6 on 2015-02-09. Score: 0

1. Sit with your emotions of regret and cry and truly feel the pain you caused others
2. Decide to fuel it into following the Noble Truths to live a balanced life and work towards the super awesome goals of Buddhism which are far beyond anything that any drug or thing or person can ever give you!
3. Make a small offering (a small bowl of rice will do, throw it in your garden the next morning) to your family ancestors, ghosts and the other beings and ask them for their help every night.
4. Forgive yourself when you have fully taken this decision to change and made this sacrifice
5. List the different things you want to change
6. Describe how each of these things are triggered and decide to avoid these triggers! (a certain social circle may not be seeing you in a while!)
7. Find a replacement habit for each of the things you want to change (for example, if you feel relaxed by drinking, listen to music instead and do deep breathing... it'll give you a similar feeling and will lead you towards even higher attainments--while enhancing your brain and body)
8. Keep monitoring your avoiding these triggers. Each day you can avoid these triggers (that are related to certain unbeneficial behaviors) is a day closer to permanent change! Studies show that if you can maintain a habit for 21 consecutive days, you basically have changed the way your brain works!

Good luck!


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