There may be sentient beings who think in this way, “Since doing good deeds are unable to neutralize, balance or offset any akusalakamma, there’s no need to do kusalakamma anymore! I won’t do any more good works to accumulate merits in the future!” Such a concept is definitely wrong. Charity works ought to be put into practice so that ‘big akusalakamma resulted in little retribution received’ can be hoped for with lots of good works done and many blessings accumulated. This is the reduction of the severity of offenses or heavy karma yielding light punishment mentioned in Buddhist sutras. For example, in 【Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra】, Volume 31 (【大般涅槃經】卷第三十一), it says, “…making fixed (retributions) becomes unfixed ones (定作不定), turning retributions suffered in the next life/lives to this life, severe retributions become slight ones and retributions that are supposed to suffer in hell are changed into lighter ones to be undergone in the human world.”
One who is subjected to big evil retributions may suffer from serious illnesses and be tortured to death in this life or one may encounter accidents unexpectedly and die a natural death. Viewing in the long run, it can be so severe that one will be pestered by immeasurable dukkha-vipaka (a Sanskrit term, means pain retribution) during one’s innumerable reincarnations in future world.
One who is subjected to small evil retributions may just be perplexed by minor sicknesses or slight injuries etc. frequently in this life. One should understand that retributions must necessarily be withstood by the person concerned personally. Though good karma and evil karma cannot neutralize or offset each other, it can be reduced to little retribution for big akusalakamma. Hence, one has to repent and reform genuinely as well as engaging more in good deeds just as what is stated in【Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra】, “Those conceal with good works done can receive slight retributions for heavy (evil) karma made while those without any done good works concealed will suffer serious evil retributions even  for light (evil) karma made.”

Like the old saying, “To err is human” (人誰無過). Starting from the day of birth to growing-up into an adult and then learn and practise Buddhism autonomously, it is inevitable that a person may somewhat have committed certain evil deeds in between the period. Little killing of livestock as well as improper words and deeds in one’s childhood etc. are examples of karma-hetu (karma as cause). The rest of the causes are left for us to recall the past memories by our own selves respectively. Growing to maturity from one’s infancy, no matter whether one is learning Buddhism or not, one will find that one has ever done something wrong if one conducts a self-evaluation. As one feels regret from one’s inner most being, one would like to atone for one’s wrongdoings in the past. Rinpoche has advised and encouraged us, “Being able to expiate one’s sins is definitely the best. Try to atone for whatever sins you can redeem. If you’re going to confess your sins, I’ll certainly offer you my greatest blessings as well as heartfelt wishes that everyone can repent thoroughly and atone for your sins successfully. It’s only when everybody is satisfied that such an ending can be regarded as a happy one. I’m indeed reluctant to see my disciples or sentient beings fall under the torment of dukkha-vipaka hereafter. Everyone must cherish the possession of a human body which is rather rare and hereby try your very best to do more good works and in turn accumulate more good fortune with the precious human body owned.”