How can beings in the lower realms ever exhaust their negative karma and gain higher rebirth since they constantly accumulate more negative karma while in the lower realms?
A student writes: I have finished the Module on Karma, and I have a question concerning the Purification of Karma, the burning off of Karma, and the ripening of Karma. I think that I understand the accumulation of Karma but what I don’t understand is how Beings in the lower realms are able to get rid of Karma. In particular animals, and specifically carnivores who continually accumulate Karma by killing and eating sentient beings. I realize that they are in the situation they are in is because of past Karma, but how are they able to purify Karma in their present situation since they are unable to practice the Dharma. Again I realize that Karma has a life time and will eventually burn out but these poor beings are accumulating Karma every day to survive therefore it would seem that they would never reach a higher realm again and probably continually end up in even lower realms. Another student responds: Great question. Karma ripens according to natural law. I think it quite possible tha
