The Lesson of the Stumbling Horse

The Metaphor of the Stumbling Horse

For a horse, the front hooves are the most vital parts of its body, essential for running and moving forward with speed and grace. When we say a horse stumbles, it refers to a moment when the horse steps into empty space while running, causing it to tumble and fall. In the context of our spiritual journey, this metaphor describes a practitioner who experiences a sudden loss of balance, a setback, or a failure in their practice. Such a situation does not occur without a cause. It is usually the result of underlying issues that have been ignored or left unaddressed, eventually leading to a moment of instability.

For those of us on the path of practice, experiencing suffering, tasting the bitter fruits of negative karma, or sustaining spiritual injury can be likened to a horse stumbling. This is especially true when we allow our arrogance to become a habit or when we let our own personality traits take control without even being aware of it. When we are caught up in our own pride or when our stubborn personality traits manifest, we inadvertently attract the very beings we have harmed in our past lives. These karmic creditors wait patiently for the right moment to seek revenge, and when that moment arrives, we find ourselves caught unprepared.

The Hidden Dangers of Arrogance and Neglect

When the time for karmic retribution arrives, we may suffer from painful consequences that we have not experienced before. This often manifests in the following ways:

• We may engage in self-destructive behaviours, using our own bodies, emotions, words, and thoughts to cause ourselves harm.
• We may inadvertently create new negative causes, deepening our entanglement in the cycle of being reincarnated.
• We may fall into the trap of believing that we are already beyond the cycle of being reincarnated, leading us to neglect the essential work of changing our personality traits and chanting Namo Amituofo.
• We may fail to recognise the importance of self-reliance in seeking liberation, leaving us vulnerable when our karmic creditors come to collect their due.

If we do not change our arrogant habits and if our compassion remains insufficient, we may find our bodies occupied by karmic creditors and attached spirits. This leads to premature ageing, persistent illness, the recurrence of old ailments, and eventually, the intense suffering that precedes death. We must understand that these are not merely physical problems; they are spiritual warnings that our practice has become stagnant.

The Path to True Mastery

Many practitioners fall into a state of being drowsy or lose their focus when entering different spaces of consciousness. They fail to remain vigilant, and because they have not changed their personality, they continue to hold onto people, events, or objects that they should have long since released. This leads to several critical issues:

• Unresolved Attachments: Holding onto grievances or desires creates a heavy burden that prevents the heart from being still.
• The Rise of Anger: When we are dissatisfied or cling to specific people or situations, our anger is easily triggered, causing our heart to fluctuate incessantly.
• Loss of Control: Because our hearts are not stable, we become unable to master our own lives, allowing karmic creditors and attached spirits to manifest constantly.
• Stagnation in Practice: When we cannot master our own hearts, our practice ceases to progress, and we become susceptible to the suffering of old age, sickness, and death.

We must take these teachings as a mirror to reflect upon our own lives. It is essential that we follow the Dharma, uphold the Precepts, and commit ourselves to changing our ways. Do not allow yourself to repeat the same mistakes. By remaining vigilant and sincere, we can avoid the stumbling of the horse and prevent even greater or more severe harm from befalling us. Let us dedicate ourselves to the path of purity, ensuring that every step we take is guided by the light of Namo Amituofo.

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo