user8305: If our present suffering is the result of bad karma from a prior life, what is the real present remedy for suffering in this life?

user-1: your question falls into the 6th thing Buddha said we should know about Karma
1) what is Karma -   intention
2) stage where karma is played out.  (i dont know if my pali English text is correct, Nidhana-sam-Bhava)  the answer is Pasa or dection.  Karma can bare result in those who have detection.  This matches independent origination detection is a condition for feeling to arise, in this case feeling of unpleasantness.
3) levels of Karma; karma that results in beings to be in hell realms, in animal wombs, in hungry ghost realms, in human realms, in heavens.  
4)Time of karma.  Immediate, further in the future, or even more further in the future.
5) the end of karma.  Karma ends when detection ends.
6)path/road to the end of karma.  That's 8 fold paths.   
Please notice that the fundamental things to know about Karma matches well with OidaOudenEidos' answer.  Right mindfulness and concentration are 8 fold path.
This Demonstrates Buddha's great ability, no matter when and where he spoke of Dhamma, they all match well together.     

user7548: Don't philosophize about past lives. You were born a human being, that in itself is a condition for old age, sickness and death (and all other types of suffering).
As for the remedy the Buddha stated

This is the only way, monks, for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the destruction of suffering and grief, for reaching the right path, for the attainment of Nibbana, namely, the four foundations of mindfulness.

Practicing sati (mindfulness) is in Buddhism seen as the way of purification and the basis of wisdom. You can find many help & instructions already posted in questions on this site. Also there is a quite popular and helpful practical booklet about this on the internet. 

8305: <p>If our present suffering is the result of bad karma from a prior life, what is the real present remedy for suffering in this life?</p>
 -1: <p>your question falls into the 6th thing Buddha said we should know about Karma</p>

<p>1) what is Karma -   intention</p>

<p>2) stage where karma is played out.  (i dont know if my pali English text is correct, Nidhana-sam-Bhava)  the answer is Pasa or dection.  Karma can bare result in those who have detection.  This matches independent origination detection is a condition for feeling to arise, in this case feeling of unpleasantness.</p>

<p>3) levels of Karma; karma that results in beings to be in hell realms, in animal wombs, in hungry ghost realms, in human realms, in heavens.  </p>

<p>4)Time of karma.  Immediate, further in the future, or even more further in the future.</p>

<p>5) the end of karma.  Karma ends when detection ends.</p>

<p>6)path/road to the end of karma.  That's 8 fold paths.   </p>

<p>Please notice that the fundamental things to know about Karma matches well with OidaOudenEidos' answer.  Right mindfulness and concentration are 8 fold path.</p>

<p>This Demonstrates Buddha's great ability, no matter when and where he spoke of Dhamma, they all match well together.     </p>
 7548: <p>Don't philosophize about past lives. You were born a human being, that in itself is a condition for old age, sickness and death (and all other types of suffering).</p>

<p>As for the remedy <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.010.nysa.html" rel="nofollow">the Buddha stated</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>This is the only way, monks, for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the destruction of suffering and grief, for reaching the right path, for the attainment of Nibbana, namely, <strong>the four foundations of mindfulness</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Practicing <em>sati</em> (mindfulness) is in Buddhism seen as the way of purification and the basis of wisdom. You can find many help &amp; instructions already posted in questions on this site. Also there is a quite popular and helpful practical <a href="http://www.sirimangalo.org/text/how-to-meditate/" rel="nofollow">booklet about</a> this on the internet. </p>
