Obstructions Everywhere
July 23, 2007
Venerable Wuling in Amitabha Sutra, Compassion, Emotions, Obstacles, True Nature

To achieve in our practice, we need to let go of worldly concerns. Letting go does not mean that we do not care and would not help. We care, extend our help and let go simultaneously. This is wisdom. Those who care but cannot let go are still ruled by emotions.

How do Buddhas and bodhisattvas manage to care, help, and let go? They have true wisdom. They have turned all their emotions into wisdom, which is the ultimate perfect wisdom. They have wondrous and amazing flexibility and skills. Although they help all beings out of great compassion, there is no slightest attachment in their minds. This is the wonderful working of innate virtues.

The Buddha often said that this wisdom was not exclusive to him. It is innate in every being. Why do Buddhas and bodhisattvas appear to have it but we do not? Because they are awakened and we are deluded.

When one is awakened, there is no obstruction between principle and phenomena, and there is no obstacle between individual phenomena.

When one is deluded, there are obstructions everywhere.

Our problem is that we are deluded, and our delusion obscures our true nature. We need to awaken, to end delusion and attain enlightenment.

~ Based on Ven. Master Chin Kung's 2003 lecture series on the Amitabha Sutra

 

Article originally appeared on a buddhist perspective (http://www.abuddhistperspective.org/).
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