In the scriptures there's a particular teaching where the Buddha is being asked why are people born rich, why are people born handsome, why are people smart, why are people dumb, all these different questions. And the Buddha related part of the law of Kamma. He said people who are beautiful now, it's because in their past life they were very loving. People who are ugly now, in their past life they were always angry. People who are rich now, are rich because in their past life they used to give generously. People who are poor, they were stingy in past lives.
Now before I continue, these are things that also happen moment by moment. You sit with somebody who is considered very plain or even ugly, but when they're loving, aren't they beautiful to be with? You sit with Mr. Universe, with Mrs. Universe, with Miss. Universe, , a gorgeous women, a handsome man, and they get angry, aren't they ugly? Don't you just want to go away? This is a moment-to-moment reality, not only a lifetime-to-lifetime Buddhist teaching.
When you give generously, do you feel rich? Even if you're not rich in the sense of all your money, when you give, do you feel rich? When you don't give, you walk by a beggar and think, "I don't want to give today", don't you feel poor? These are things moment to moment. Now along in this Sutta the Buddha said as far as being smart or being stupid if you come to your teachers and you don't ask any questions, you'll be reborn stupid. If you come to your teachers and you ask questions, you will be reborn smart. When you think about that in a moment to moment situation it's quite obvious. Come to your interviews, don't ask anything and walk straight out. Are you smarter when you go out? No, you're actually stupider, because you missed an opportunity, you failed to take an opportunity to increase your wisdom. So this is moment to moment and it's lifetime to lifetime.