Dharma Talk Overcoming Demonic obstacles in the 100th Seven-Day Retreat

On the fourth day in the 100th Seven-Day Retreat of Sep. 09th, 2023 Nun Thich Nu Nhu Lan, Vice Director Board of Cao Lanh Dictrict’s Buddhist Sangha, Abbess of Hung Thien pagoda came to main hall 1 of Dharma Wheel Building to preach a dharma talk named Overcoming demonic obstacles.

In the Shurangama Sutra, the Buddha taught that on the path of practice, there are many hardships, demonic obstacles, ... indeed, whether the practice path or the living path, the journey practitioners walk is not always smooth; therefore, Nun shared extremely important methods to help cultivators overcome evil obstacles, and steadily progress in their practice.

Demonic obstacles are adversities, hindrances, killing the body wisdom root, robbing the cultivators’ boundless merit. Obstacles in daily life hinder the practice, or the Bodhi path to Nirvana are called  ghost obstacles.

There are 4 types of ghosts, such as afflictions, five aggregate, ghost of death, and ghost of heaven.

Afflictions are the basis of birth - death cycle, the root that for many lifetimes has caused sentient beings to incarnation, reborn in the three realms and six paths.

It is not simple to overcome afflictions. The cause of afflictions is greed and anger; regarding the greed, the nun teaches the contemplation of impermanence, encouraging listeners to choose a good career benefit themselves and others in the mind desires little, knows enough; Regarding the anger, practitioners should remember the cause-effect, be compassionate, joyful and forgiving, patient and harmonious, cherish the moment being still present in life to love and forgive.

In addition, illness leading to death (death ghost) is a great obstacle: the body is composed of four great elements and its combination. Therefore, the nun advised the attendees to be diligent and equip themselves with enough wisdom to return to the Pure Land by reciting Buddha's name.

From her lecture, the nun encouraged practitioners to specialize in reciting Buddha's name, aspire to be born in the Pure Land, practice diligently to overcome obstacles, go straight forward on the path of cultivating, and study Buddhism to escape the cycle of Samsara.

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