OBSTRUCTIONS ARE STEPPING STONES AND PATHS TO BUDDHAHOOD
Master Jun Hong Lu: It’s crucial to recognise that life is fraught with tribulations, difficulties, and bitterness. Simply being a human being in this world is never a walk in the park, not to mention the trials of one’s fate. I have oftentimes talked about the complexity of life, the difficulty of being a human, and the existential challenges that come with it.
This underscores the importance of rising above and eliminating your ego, as only by doing so, can you slowly change the course of our destiny. If you turn a blind eye to your shortcomings and your karmic obstacles, would it be possible that you will have a smooth-sailing life in this world?
The same goes to Bodhisattvas who descend to the human realm. They would have to go through a multitude of karmic challenges too. This lays the groundwork for Their profound understanding and Their eventual spiritual accomplishment which highlights the importance of having great aspirations.
Please bear in mind that to cultivate well, the crux lies in cultivating the mind. The objective of Buddhist practice is to help us overcome every obstruction that comes our way so that we can claim victory in this life journey of ours.
Suffering is inevitable, and this applies to both Buddhist practitioners and a Bodhisattva, who is in the human realm to fulfil Their vows.
A caller once asked, “Since a Bodhisattva, who descends to the human realm to save people, will undoubtedly receive the blessings of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, why will He still have to suffer and fall ill?”
Let me share this with you: It’s universally known that Tang Seng (Note: the central character in the Chinese novel entitled ‘Journey to the West’, monk Xuanzang) had already attained Buddhahood, and even with the continuous protection of Guan Yin Bodhisattva, He still had to shoulder the numerous trials and tribulations that came His way. Why is that so?
The rationale behind this principle mirrors that of worldly wisdom: “Only those who endure the hardest hardship will be the best spiritual cultivator”. Only by clearing all karmic debts and karmic obstacles, and enduring trials and tribulations, can one attain true spiritual fruition. Just like in the human realm, in the face of numerous difficulties, it is only through perseverance that progress and success can be achieved. The underlying principle is extremely similar.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms (Radio Program), Volume 1 Chapter 20