Dear Michael,
As you also said, the point discussed in Milinda's questions was whether
akusala is stronger when there is more ignorance. The point was not whether
there is stronger vipaka for an ignorant person. Kamma produces vipaka, but
there are other conditions necessary for kamma to produce vipaka. In the Co.
to the Vibhanga, the Dispeller of Delusion, ch 16, Classification of
Knowledge, 2198 there is mentioned: destiny, gati, substratum, upadhi, one's
means or conduct, payoga, kaala, time. These can be favorable, sampatti or
unfavorable, vipatti. For example when you are born in time of war or in a
country where there is hunger, there is more opportunity for akusala kamma
to produce akusala vipaaka and less opportunity for kusala vipaaka. This
subject is complex, many condiitons play their part.
There were countless past lives and we do not know which kamma will produce
result at which time. But so long as there is ignorance we are in the cycle
and we have to receive vipakaa.
Nina.
op 02-11-2003 18:04 schreef Michael Beisert op mbeisert@...:

> I still have some difficulty in accepting that one specific unwholesome
> deed may have a stronger vipaka for an ignorant person. I like your quotes
> from the Abhidhamma and using that logic the same mental factors
> (cetasikas), influenced by the same roots, would be present in the same
> unwholesome deed performed by the dhamma practitioner (assuming he /she is
> still a putujana) and an ignorant person.