Hey Wai Meng,
Sometimes I get quite confused by this karma malarkey...
On the one hand, we are told, "If you cannot help, at least do no harm", which - in my understanding - seems to imply that "neutral" karma isn't really detrimental to future causes. On the other hand, there's the idea that negative karma is actually better than neutral karma, since negative karma might at least inspire us through results to make a change for the better, whereas neutral karma simply has us plodding along.
I think the idea of turning our motivation into something more positive is an interesting one. Some might ask, "How is it possible to do the dishes with a positive motivation?!" Of course, this can be done with a simple thought: "I will do these dishes in order to save someone else from having to do the chore." I'm sure other mundane activities could be performed with similar thoughts in mind, resulting in positive motivation.
From my experience, in doing chores in this way, it actually increases your willingness to do things for others. As the Dalai Lama has said, we can develop a selfish compassion, which means we can "fulfill our own self interest by leading a compassionate way of life." I've heard stories told by Ajahn Jayasaro about monks who mend the robes of other monks in secret, doing deeds out of compassion, leading to the accumulation of merti and so on.
Although, according to the Lamrim, we're all certainly heading for the lower realms due to the cumulative non-virtuous actions and ignorance we've buit up over the years, so in any case, it's a goat's life for me next time round whatever I do
Still, everything's impermanent, so why worry - it' all turns out well in the end!
Kind regards,
Sandy
