Most people have a misunderstanding about the enlightened ones, thinking that they won’t have to face karmic consequences after the enlightenment. In fact, even the Buddha who achieved the greatest perfections had to take the karmic residue from the past. The same goes for the noble monks and noble individuals.
When the past karma bears its fruit, the noble monks also feel extreme pain, either physically or mentally, depending on the karmic effect. But unlike the ordinary people, they will be able to endure and let go of that suffering. Moreover, the highly virtuous monks will have the power of the Triple Gem support them in every way so that they will definitely attain the enlightenment, reaching Nirvana.
As a Vipassana Master, I’ve experienced the supportive power of the Triple Gem. There was a time when I felt extremely sad and discouraged. I set my mind on the merit I’ve accumulated and the Triple Gem for them to help me get through that critical point. In the next early morning, the biggest Buddha statue I’ve ever seen appeared in my mind, then an umbrella opened to protect me. After that, the bad situation incredibly turned the other way around. That made me feel deeply grateful to the Buddha and the Triple Gem.
Those who are determined to do good for the religion will often encounter great obstacles that make them feel discouraged and want to give up. But with their firm determination, they will be able to get through and also gain spiritual perfections.
However, the Triple Gem won’t rush to help them from the beginning. I understand that it’s due to two reasons.
Firstly, if the person is facing karmic consequence, they must suffer to a certain extent. Interfering with karmic consequence is unfair to the karmic creditor and to Dhamma.
Secondly, even if the karma isn’t very heavy, the person must pass the test. It’s the test of determination for spiritual perfections. Do believe that the Triple Gem and the Arahants always watch over those who are cultivating their perfections and will immediately help if they are about to fall apart.
Therefore, we shouldn’t be discouraged by karma. Whatever karma we’ve done will reflect at some point in time. For those who practice Vipassana meditation, particularly the Four Foundations of Mindfulness with the technique of Bodhi Dhammayan Retreat, their karma will quickly dissolve, and its weight will be much lighter to the level that they can deal with.
For a noble monk with psychic power, he will know the cause of his karma. For example, Venerable Luang Pu Jiah Jundho; he told the story of his surgery for a herniated disc, causing him to be paralyzed.
“When I was young, I raised a lot of pigs. One day, I put the boiled rice out for the pigs, but a dog came in and ate it all. I was so angry that I hit the dog with a carrying pole. With one blow, the dog passed out. Even though it was lying still like dead, I kept hitting it again and again. When it regained consciousness, I hit it brutally until it had a seizure and died… This is the karma of the present life that I must pay for.”
In these days, verbal bullying can damage people’s lives. This karma will bring the bully to total failure. They will become extremely depressed, be hated, and suffer tremendously. If they bully a highly virtuous person, the karma will be more severe, leading them to hell.
Bad karma is caused by 16 mental impurities that lead one to wrongdoing, namely: 1. Unrighteous greed 2. Ill will 3. Anger 4. Hostility 5. Contempt 6. Domineering 7. Envy 8. Stinginess 9. Deceit 10. Fraud 11. Stubbornness 12. Rivalry 13. Conceit 14. Arrogance 15. Vanity 16. Negligence
To protect ourselves from all kinds of danger, we must follow the “Ten Wholesome Courses of Action”, which are:
Three Bodily Actions: Abstain from killing or taking life, Abstain from taking things that are not given, Abstain from sexual misconduct
Four Verbal Actions: Abstain from false speech, Abstain from malicious speech, Abstain from harsh speech, Abstain from worthless speech
Three Mental Actions: Not being greedy, Not holding a grudge, Having Right View
With moral shame and fear of wrongdoing, we won’t commit new sins and will continuously benefit from the merit through our lifetime.
Therefore, we must always be careful with all actions.
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