Why Does More Diligence Bring More Obstacles?

Practicing Buddhism is like driving a vehicle against the wind or rowing a boat against the current: the faster the vehicle or boat moves, the greater the resistance. Karmic conditions are like wind and water—going along with them leads to saṃsāra and the three evil destinies; going against them leads to liberation and nirvāṇa. Of course, going along with them feels comfortable, sliding downward automatically without any effort, whereas going against them means heavy resistance and difficult progress. But a practitioner should be courageous and unafraid of obstructive conditions. The greater the resistance and the greater the obstructions, the more bravely one should break through them, never willing to be manipulated and controlled by the power of karma.

Breaking through the barrier of karmic obstructions in one vigorous push is the most effortless way. If you retreat when you meet resistance, there will always be a barrier before you, obscuring liberation. For those who practice Buddhism lukewarmly, no obstructive conditions will ever appear: family harmony, career success, good health, ever-increasing wealth—everything in worldly life goes smoothly, with no interference and no demonic obstructions. Because you are not diligent and show no sign of wanting to leave saṃsāra, there is no need to disturb you. After all, you are bound to be a guest in the three evil destinies anyway; your creditors need not worry about collecting their debts, and your karmic adversaries do not fear that you will slip out of their grasp. Because of your lack of diligence, you also cannot stir up karmic seeds or prompt them to ripen early and bring retribution. After the retribution is received, you would be free of debt and light in body, and your practice would proceed smoothly. But if karmic seeds do not ripen and karmic conditions do not appear, they remain dormant within the tathāgatagarbha, dragging you through birth and death in the six destinies with no refuge—and they will forever be an obstacle to liberation.