Phenomena Following Spiritual Attainment

After diligently practicing with right effort and correct direction, one will reap benefits: desires lessen, attachments and afflictions diminish, and certain changes occur in body and mind. Knowing the impermanence, selflessness, and emptiness of the world, material cravings fade, attachment to material form weakens, and greed decreases. As long as material desires lessen and one does not crave indulgence, living in this world fundamentally requires little money or material goods. Those accustomed to relying on worldly possessions inevitably have intense greed; their need for money and material things becomes excessive. They strive desperately to earn money yet still feel it is insufficient. Sufficiency or insufficiency lies in the mind, not in the amount of material wealth or money. Only by knowing contentment and moderation can one find peace and happiness in the heart.

After right diligent practice becomes effective, the need to eliminate karmic obstacles and hindrances arises, and one will encounter adverse conditions. As stated in the Diamond Sutra: "Because they are despised by the world, the karmic offenses from their past lives are thereby eradicated." After embarking on the path of practice, one may attract some adverse conditions; these adverse conditions also serve as supporting conditions for practice. Adverse conditions can eliminate karmic offenses for practitioners; at the minor cost of being despised, grave karmic offenses can be extinguished. Therefore, one should joyfully accept adverse conditions. Sometimes, even though you have done nothing wrong, someone may falsely accuse or frame you. If you endure it silently, the matter will pass, and the karma will be cleared. If you cannot endure it and retaliate, you not only create new karma but also fail to clear the old karma. Therefore, the Buddha taught that patience is a virtue, meritorious, and increases blessings and wisdom. Treating such circumstances with kindness can aid one's spiritual path.