Hello Inflib
Hello Lal:
I was tempted to comment on (rather than answer) your question when no replies were given yet, but I did not want you and others to be in any way misled even by that. So I waited.
The first ‘answer’ that came to mind was: if the kamma vipaka is overwhemingly strong, the results will take effect as soon as the right conditions arise. Otherwise…’ As one proceeds on the Path and comprehends, acts, speaks and thinks with the anicca (dukkha and anatta as well) nature ‘ those are in themselves causes and MAY bring effects even to the present situation(s); if not, then they will do so certainly later on when the right conditions arise.
Now having read Lal’s answer and again read the post “What is Kamma? – Is Everything Determined by Kamma?, there reference is made, in #5 ,to
‘ “Transfer of Merits (Pattidāna)- How Does that Happen?” and “5. Ariya Metta Bhavana (Loving Kindness Meditation)“. In the first post, that to do with Pattidana, there is benefit for the other because merits are actually transferred to him/her. In Ariya Metta Bhavana, how is the receiver benefitted? IS there a receiver, receivers? Here, the loving-kindness, the Metta, wells up in the one doing the Bhavana,the ‘state of overall well-being and oneness’ and all the positive and beneficial effects of it would all appear to be for the meditator. Or is it otherwise? Or, again, is it like I say AND also otherwise?
Crudely stated, Metta Bhavana WOULD appear to be selfish. I have been practicing it and there is no doubting the benefits FOR MYSELF. More important issues follow from all of this, but the answer may make most of that irrelevant. (….an answer like: treading the Path IS a selfish thing; Nibbana is a selfish goal..etc, in that it is ARIYA Metta Bhavana, a Bhavana for Ariyas, and an Ariya’s ONLY goal is Nibbana,clearly a selfish goal, while as to Pattidana, no reference is made whether it is Ariya or riya, so the latter must be implied).
y not