indeed...repentance and develop the Bodhi Mind are good ways to
remedy one from retrogression. 
Point 5: The Mind of Repentance
and Vows
In the endless cycle of Birth and Death, all sentient beings are at
one time or another related to one another. However, because of
delusion and attachment to self, we have, for countless eons,
harmed other sentient beings and created an immense amount of evil
karma.
The Buddhas and the sages appear in this world out of compassion,
to teach and liberate sentient beings, of whom we are a part. Even
so, we engender a mind of ingratitude and destructiveness toward
the Triple Jewel (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). Now that we know this,
we should feel remorse and repent the three evil karmas.
Even the Bodhisattva Maitreya, who has attained
non-retrogression, still practices repentance six times a day, in
order to achieve Buddhahood swiftly. We should use our
bodies to pay respect to the Triple Jewel, our mouths to confess
our transgressions and seek expiation, and our minds to repent
sincerely and undertake not to repeat them. Once we have repented,
we should put a complete stop to our evil mind and conduct, to the
point where mind and objects are empty. Only then will there be
true repentance ... We should also vow to foster the Triple Jewel,
rescue and liberate all sentient beings, atone for our past
transgressions, and repay the "four great debts," which are the
debt to the Triple Jewel, the debt to our parents and teachers, the
debt to our spiritual friends, and finally, the debt we owe to all
sentient beings.
Through this repentant mind, our past transgressions will
disappear, our virtues will increase with time, leading us to the
stage of perfect merit and wisdom. Only when we practice with such
a repentant mind can we be said to have "developed the Bodhi
Mind."
Point 6: The Mind of no Retreat
Although a practitioner may have repented his past transgressions
and vowed to cultivate, his habitual delusions and obstructions are
not easy to eliminate, nor is the accumulation of merits and
virtues through cultivation of the six paramitas and ten thousand
conducts necessarily easy to achieve. Moreover, the path of perfect
Enlightenment and Buddhahood is long and arduous, full of hardship
and obstructions over the course of untold eons. It is not the work
of one or two life spans. For example, the Elder Sariputra [one of
the main disciples of Buddha Sakyamuni] had reached the sixth
"abode" of Bodhisattvahood in one of his previous incarnations and
had developed the Bodhi Mind practicing the Paramita of Charity.
However, when an externalist (non-Buddhist) asked him for one of
his eyes and then, instead of using it, spat on it and crushed it
with his foot, even Sariputra became angry and retreated from the
Mahayana mind.
We can see, therefore, that holding fast to our vows is not an easy
thing! For this reason, if the practitioner wishes to keep his
Bodhi Mind from retrogressing, he should be strong and firm in his
vows. He should vow thus: "Although this body of mine may endure
immense suffering and hardship, be beaten to death or even reduced
to ashes, I shall not, in consequence, commit wicked deeds or
retrogress in my cultivation." Practicing with such a
non-retrogressing mind is called "developing the Bodhi Mind."
The six cardinal points summarized above are sine qua non for those
who aspire to develop the Bodhi Mind. Those who do not earnestly
practice on this basis will never attain Buddhahood. There are only
two roads before us: revolving in Birth and Death, or liberation.
Although the way to liberation is full of difficulties and
hardships, each step leads gradually to the place of light,
freedom, peace and happiness. The way of Birth and Death, while
temporarily leading to blessings in the celestial and human realms,
ultimately ends in the three Evil Paths, subjecting us to untold
suffering, with no end in sight.
Therefore, fellow cultivators, you should develop a mind of strong
perseverance, marching forward toward the bright path of great
Bodhi. The scene of ten thousand flowers vying to bloom in the sky
of liberation will be there to greet you! http://www.purifymind.com/BuddWisdomFaith.htm
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