Is Buddhist Practice Really That Easy?

Buddhist practice is exceedingly difficult because the karmic obstacles arising from ignorance accumulated over countless kalpas are profoundly deep, and the attachments to self and phenomena are exceedingly severe. To completely eradicate these is no easy task—it cannot be accomplished without immense strength, courage, and wisdom; it cannot be accomplished without the blessings bestowed by the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions throughout the ages; it cannot be accomplished without the long-term protection of Dharma protectors. If someone claims that practice is very easy, suggesting that merely doing a little in some aspect, making a slight effort, is enough to attain Buddhahood, enter the Tathagata's family, or achieve enlightenment—asserting that nothing else needs to be cultivated, no need for deep, systematic practice, no need to lay a solid foundation step by step, no need to uphold precepts, no need to cultivate meditative concentration, no need to pay any price, no need to endure much hardship, and that both life and Buddhist practice can be accomplished joyfully and effortlessly—then we should recognize that such a person has certainly achieved nothing. For they have surely given up nothing, refusing to break free from the bondage of worldly sensual desires, with greed and attachment still deeply entrenched.

Without upholding precepts, without meditative concentration, without even the foundational practices—without genuinely cultivating anything—they assuredly have not genuinely attained anything. Hence, claims like "attaining Buddhahood in one lifetime," "attaining Buddhahood in this very body," "attaining Buddhahood in this very life," or "attaining Buddhahood merely by reciting the Buddha's name to attain rebirth" are prevalent. Some even say that within the triad of precepts, concentration, and wisdom, precepts and concentration are unnecessary; only prajna wisdom is needed, claiming that wisdom alone directly leads to Buddhahood. We must be wary of such statements and not be deceived. Those who have never walked that path often claim it is easy to traverse. Only those actually walking the path will understand its true landscape and speak truthful words to others.

We must be cautious of those who make the Dharma seem exceedingly simple and practice appear very easy. Those without experience imagine it to be effortless—like looking at the moon overhead at night, feeling it is very close, believing it follows you wherever you go, seemingly within arm's reach. Yet, when one boards a ladder of clouds or an airplane heading towards the moon, it becomes clear that no matter how far one travels, the moon remains just as distant, always that far away. The feeling of closeness is merely a feeling—hazy and illusory—while the reality is vastly different from the perception.

The same is true for Buddhist practice. It may feel easy to attain Buddhahood or realization, but once one truly sets foot on the path, the entanglements of ignorance and karmic obstacles make every step arduous. It requires us to continually discard worldly burdens, relinquish certain worldly enjoyments, and pay the necessary price to exchange for some achievement. Without relinquishment, attainment is impossible. Truly precious things are never obtained cheaply.