REASONS FOR ONE TO DROP OUT OF THE SPIRITUAL PATH; DILIGENCE IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS
Caller: There is a saying that goes, “Uncrowded is the path to the Lotus Pond in the West” because there are too many who will drop out of this path of spiritual cultivation, arising from:
1. The disappearance of a batch who is hypocritical and show phoney mercy;
2. The dropping out of a group who holds on to demonic view and thought;
3. The cessation of a group whose cultivation is at odds;
4. The loss of a batch who lacks the right view;
5. The downhearted group who suffers objection from their close relatives to their Buddhism practice;
6. The backsliding of a batch whose friends obstruct their spiritual quest;
7. The loss of a group who kill themselves with their own blind cultivation and training;
8. The elimination of a batch who does not put effort into their practice;
9. The deferment of a group who never practises what they learn; and
10. The invalidation of a group who is self-opinionated.
Conclusion: Stay true to your spiritual cultivation and see you at the great assembly of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Persist like no other so you can achieve like none other.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Very good! Spot on! This is how it is. Perseverance is key. In Buddhism terms it means “To dedicate oneself to progress”.
In fact, within the Six Paramitas, we have the “Paramita of Diligence”. What was mentioned just now are the ten reasons that contribute to one’s backsliding in spiritual cultivation.
It highlights the importance of being diligent in this spiritual journey. Without diligence, one will backslide. What is the opposite of “diligence”? It is to fall backwards.
Diligence means you have to forge ahead vigorously, that is, you make great effort to move forward. The minute you stop making progress, that’s when you fall backwards.
Source: Shuohua20171013 24:38, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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