It’s from the Samyutta Nikāya, and it’s frequently copied out at the top of a new Bullet Journal page at the beginning of a new day, so that (one can hope, at least) it guides my thoughts and actions:
“However the seed is planted, in that way the fruit is gathered. Good things come from doing good deeds, bad things come from doing bad deeds (SN 11.10).”
Thoughts are deeds. Jealousy, ill will, and repressed anger are examples Andrew Olendzki offers in Dhamma Wheel of thoughts that are bad deeds because bad things come from them. On the other hand, if we try to nurture good thoughts like wisdom, compassion, lovingkindness, and the like, then good things can only come from that. So I try to set my mind in that direction every morning… and sometimes it even lasts until after breakfast!
I also try to instill that in my students. Slacking, cheating, plagiarizing, and not carrying your own weight in class discussion is bad karma and it’s going to have bad results. Taking the course seriously and behaving accordingly, with kindness and respect for your peers, can only have good result!
So I never really thought about it until I saw the prompt, but yeah: I do have that one quote!
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