Third, the contemplation on the undeniable karma of cause and result. The root verses read: The cause and result of virtuous and nonvirtuous actions cannot be denied.

When the result of suffering and unhappiness from nonvirtuous actions and the result of benefit and happiness from virtuous actions accumulated in this life are experienced as ripening in this immediate life, this is called the karma of obviously experienced phenomena. Even if the result of sinful actions accumulated in this life does not ripen in this immediate life, suffering will be experienced in the next life, and likewise, even if the result of virtuous actions accumulated in this life does not ripen in this immediate life, the result of happiness will be experienced in the next life. This is called the karma of what will be experienced in the next rebirth. If the time does not arrive in this life or the next life for the ripening of the result of suffering from the cause of nonvirtue and the result of happiness from virtue, it is certain that it will be experienced in another future life. This is called the karma of what will be experienced in far future lives. In this way, according to how the cause of either virtuous or non-virtuous karma is accumulated, the result will ripen undeniably.

A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar
by Thinley Norbu
Shambhala Publishing