The Essential Call to Overcome Karmic Obstacles
Words of Namo Amituofo
Recorded by Venerable HaiZe on July 1, 2022
My children, listen closely to these words. When you find yourself overcome by being drowsy, desperately wanting to remain awake and alert, yet your eyes remain heavy and closed, unable to rouse yourself, do you not feel the weight of that suffering? When you intend to rise early to perform your daily prostrations, yet day after day you find yourself waiting until the final bell forces you to wake, only to be filled with deep regret for having lost such a precious opportunity to cultivate merit, is this not a profound source of suffering?
The Fire of Emotion and the Weight of
You know well that your temperament is not yet refined. You are prone to anger, and you understand that you must change your ways. However, when a situation arises, it is as if a spark has touched dry tinder; you are ignited in an instant. When the fires of emotion rise within you once more, do you not feel the bitterness of that internal struggle? When your body begins to fail, particularly when old illnesses return, and you are forced to reflect on where you have gone wrong, is that not a painful experience?
When sickness manifests, it is a clear sign that your karma has come to the surface. When you face the inevitable processes of ageing, the loss of vitality, and the physical weakness that you find so difficult to resist, or even when the ultimate suffering of death draws near, do you not feel the crushing weight of these realities? These are all manifestations of your karma. If you answer that you are suffering, then you must ask yourself: do you feel as though you have lost control of your own life? Is there a deep, lingering sadness because you cannot truly be the master of your own heart and mind?
The Urgency of Practice at Hsiang Kuang
All of these challenges that appear during your journey of practice are often impossible to predict. The reason they occur is that you are in the midst of a process of changing your ways and adjusting your conduct. These obstacles arise precisely because you have not yet fully transformed your habits or perfected your discipline. Whether you view these events as examinations or as the manifestation of karma, the truth remains the same: once they have appeared, if you cannot pass the test, you will continue to endure the pain of this life. Even in your future lives, these same issues may manifest again.
Therefore, my children, when problems arise, you must face them with courage and clarity. You are currently at Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, where the Buddha’s guidance is present and Practitioner Su is here to support you. You must make every effort to pass these tests now. If you do not succeed while you are in this sacred environment, how will you ever be able to overcome these obstacles in the lives to come? You must be diligent, for the time to awaken is now.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library