<p>Our present 'existence' (state of mind) does not have to be related to a prior life. The scriptures explain having such a view results in having no hope &amp; leaves one stuck in inaction. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>When one falls back on what was done in the past as being essential, monks, there is no desire, no effort [at the thought], 'This should be
  done. This shouldn't be done.' When one can't pin down as a truth or
  reality what should &amp; shouldn't be done, one dwells bewildered &amp;
  unprotected. One cannot righteously refer to oneself as a
  contemplative. This was my first righteous refutation of those
  brahmans &amp; contemplatives who hold to such teachings, such views.</em></p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.061.than.html" rel="nofollow">Tittha Sutta</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-06T05:24:23.597Z
Yes, that's a good attitude but past life karma was the reason a person was born, "prarabdha" karma. It's what caused a person to take another life and it must be settled. But all life is not "past karma" playing out. There are 4 flavors of karma in play. Sometimes knowing what debt we have brings awareness of how to live and settle things and avoid future karma
Alex S
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-06T05:59:22.667Z
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/43554/discussion-between-dhammadhatu-and-alex-s).
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-19T09:29:03.083Z
2016-07-19T09:29:03.083Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>If our present existence is the result of something we could not control (from a prior life), what hope can we have related to our present situation in this life?</p>

<karma><daily-life>
prior life what hope can we have related to our present life?
# prior life what hope can we have related to our present life?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-07-19)

If our present existence is the result of something we could not control (from a prior life), what hope can we have related to our present situation in this life?

**Tags:** karma, daily-life


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-07-19. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Our present 'existence' (state of mind) does not have to be related to a prior life. The scriptures explain having such a view results in having no hope & leaves one stuck in inaction.

> *When one falls back on what was done in the past as being essential, monks, there is no desire, no effort [at the thought], 'This should be
> done. This shouldn't be done.' When one can't pin down as a truth or
> reality what should & shouldn't be done, one dwells bewildered &
> unprotected. One cannot righteously refer to oneself as a
> contemplative. This was my first righteous refutation of those
> brahmans & contemplatives who hold to such teachings, such views.*
>
> [Tittha Sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.061.than.html)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Yes, that's a good attitude but past life karma was the reason a person was born, "prarabdha" karma. It's what caused a person to take another life and it must be settled. But all life is not "past karma" playing out. There are 4 flavors of karma in play. Sometimes knowing what debt we have brings awareness of how to live and settle things and avoid future karma  
> **username_1**: Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/43554/discussion-between-dhammadhatu-and-alex-s).  

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