Why is
it that some seem to suddenly become unwell when they embark on the path of
Dharma learning and practice, while
others do not? Unwellness can be tiredness, dizziness and such. Well, all forms
of suffering manifesting through physical sicknesses are directly (or
indirectly) linked to the ripening of our negative karma. Here is one
explanation… It is not the case that when one learns and practises the Dharma,
that this leads to sickness. The sickness is due to a ‘separate’ set of
non-Dharma related negative karma created in the past. As an example on two
things seemingly causally related, when only co-related is how it is not waiting at a traffic
light that causes it to turn green, as the light will turn green anyway, even
without anyone waiting. There is thus no reason to stop proper Dharma learning and
practice. After all, the Dharma is for guiding us to transcend all suffering
eventually, including that within the cycle of birth, ageing, sickness and
death.
Here is another explanation… Some who exert diligence in Dharma
learning and practice do seem to face challenges, in a more directly related
way. Again, it is never any fault of the Dharma itself. Challenges might be,
say, due to negative karma created from slighting the Dharma in a past life.
The solution is to simply persevere, by being even more diligent. Such repentant and remedial actions
create more positive karma, that dilutes the ripening negative karma, thus
lessening the difficulties. Obstacles will dissipate, while
ease and even spiritual bliss will arise. The most powerful method for swiftly
overcoming great suffering is Nianfo practice (of utmost sincere mindfulness of
the name of Amitabha Buddha – ‘Amituofo’). It connects to all Buddhas via this
one Buddha, protecting from possible disturbances of unseen beings too. As the
final practice in this life, it also enables reach of Pure Land – the most
efficient yet blissful school for mastery of the Dharma.
Those who do not understand the above might simply give up the
Dharma when feeling challenged. This is foolish as it abandons the very cure
for being heavily infected with poisonous negative karma. While the obstacles
might seem to cease when one pauses Dharma learning and practice, it is only postponement
of suffering. The worst case
scenario is to not learn and practise in time to lessen negative karma, and to
have great obstacles present themselves on the deathbed, thus
rendering one still stuck within the cycle of birth, ageing, sickness and death.
As an example for the need to ‘step on the gas’ of Dharma learning and practice
despite challenges, in an emergency, we might need a medicinal injection.
Painful as it might be, the pain is only ‘incidental’ and for a relatively
short while, while going through
it is a physical lifesaver. The Dharma, however, is the true and total saver of
our spiritual lives. Again, the Dharma never causes pain or suffering, for it
is the cure!
Source : thedailyenlightenment.com
