What Are the Obstacles Encountered in Buddhist Practice?

The obstacle of delusion (kṛti-āvaraṇa) is the confusion in one's thoughts and views, and it is also the affliction-obstruction of defilements (kleśāvaraṇa). The obstacle of karma refers to the karmic retributive obstacles produced by the countless karmic actions committed over immeasurable kalpas. The obstacle of habits refers to the worldly conditioning accumulated over immeasurable kalpas, which has long since become habitual, and the force of this inertia is extremely great. The obstacle of māras includes obstacles set up through the interference of celestial māras (deva-māra), as well as obstacles arising from one's own mind in the form of the māra of mental afflictions. For those who lack the ability to transcend the desire realm, celestial māras will not come to interfere, because they feel there is no need to do so; in most cases, it is the māra-obstacles of afflictions arising from each person's own mind.

These obstacles constantly follow those who study Buddhism. If one is not diligent, they are not yet obvious; but when one diligently applies effort, or when one's cultivation of the Path makes some progress, these obstructions become very evident, and one feels that various resistances are very strong. It is like walking on foot: even though there is wind blowing around, one feels only a gentle breeze. If riding a bicycle, the wind one feels is somewhat stronger, but it poses no great problem. If riding a motorcycle, the wind resistance becomes great—the faster the speed, the greater the resistance one feels, because there is an issue of impact force between objects. Studying Buddhism and cultivating the Path is the same: there is an impact force between oneself and the habitual tendencies and inertia accumulated over immeasurable kalpas; the more diligent one is, the greater the obstruction one encounters. If one has indomitable perseverance and does not fear obstructions, one's cultivation of the Path will continuously advance, and one's attainments will come both quickly and greatly.