--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Van Horn" <ekvh@...> wrote:

> Hello Michael, Nina, et al,
>
> .
>
> The good news for those of us who have been exposed - even

briefly - to the

> Dhamma, is that this exposure helps protect us against future

misfortune. It

> is especially good news for our future lives, but it is also

pretty good

> news for this one. :)
>
> Metta,
>
> Eric Van Horn
> Colchester, Vermont
>==========

Dear Eric,
Yes. In the commentaries they give the example of the baby who
reaches out for a hot pot on a stove. They are completely ignorant
of the danger and so burn themselves badly. The adult takes hold of
the same pot, but very gingerly moving it quickly. They feel the
heat but don't get burned much, if at all.
Say someone is poor and makes a living as a hunter supporting his
family in this way. But he knows it is akusala, so as soon as
another opportunity arises he gives up that action and never kills
again. On the other hand, the person ignorant of Dhamma might even
do hunting as a sport, enjoying the killing, and looking for any
chance to go hunting. Hunting is always akusala but we see how the
ignorant one is in the more dangerous position.
RobertK