Question asked by Frederick Law
Dearest Rinpoche, wish you well and in good health always. I am so happy and grateful that i am able to take refuge under Your Eminence during wesak, thank you for your kindness dearest Rinpoche. Rinpoche, in practicing dharma such as in doing dharma work, involving in any dharma activity and doing puja, it helps us to be a better person, to transform ourself, but in the process obstacles or negative karma manifest to hinder our practice of dharma to transform ourself, sometimes it is very tough to overcome such obstacles and emotion sometimes overwhelms. How can we practice it well and with result to transform ourself and serve others and benefit others sentient being? with folded hands. Om Ah Guru Kirti Daza Shasen Dara Kyandi Siddhi Hung Hung
Dear Frederick,
Whether you practice dharma or not you will get obtacles, problems and difficulties. It is part and parcel of ordinary life. It will come to you again and again like the summer rains. Why? We have all created causes for these problems in a previous times. Multitude of causes all dormant and waiting to be triggered.. Nothing comes without a cause. Nothing arises without an action. Nothing can be experienced without giving the experience.
I have had tremendous obstacles in my short life for the Dharma. From the time of my teenage years I experienced non-stop physical, mental and financial hardships. But I know, it was not created by the Dharma or an external force per se, but I knew it arose from me. If we cannot bear the problems we experience now, how can we progress in anything in life.
For money, food, relationships, fun we can bear so much difficulties automatically because we have been imprinted by society those are good and worth it.. To overcome obstacles, we must realize we have to change our attitude. Doing true spiritual practice is not overcoming obstacles, but accepting them as they come and not being hung up on them and letting them pass.
Be patient, learn more Dharma, apply the Dharma. If you do that sincerely, you will see a veil lift off your mind. Promise.
Don’t be afraid of obstacles, be afraid of obstacles when you don’t have a solution (Dharma).
I wish you luck and prayers, TR