Buddhism In Plain Terms
Volume 2 Chapter 13
(An Excerpt)
BREAK FREE FROM THE KARMIC OBSTACLES THAT BIND US
Master Jun Hong Lu: In this boundless, illusory world of suffering, your karmic obstacles are like the sharks in the sea. Their sights are set on you, and they are waiting for every opportunity to bite you, just like your karmic obstacles.
They are your past karmas that keep haunting you and refusing to let you go. No matter how desperately you swim, somehow they will catch up with you.
A stroke of luck sent you a life-saving boat – Bodhisattva has come to save you; you are just about to climb on to the boat; this is akin to when you first started practising Buddhism.
Do you know why you experience aches and pains on your body when you first embarked on your spiritual practice? It is because the sharks were biting on your leg and not letting go. They wanted to drag you into the water. This is how karmic obstacles from evil deeds are. There is no way that you can run.
Some people may be able to make it halfway on to the boat. However, with just one pull from the sharks, they will fall into the sea of suffering again.
Think about it, this is how hefty a person’s karmic obstacles can be. It is something that is beyond one’s control. Even if you have made it onto the boat, chances are, you may be dragged down by the power of karma. Do you understand?
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