Categories: Other Meditation Teachings
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Today, I wish to clarify a topic that many of you may have experienced or might experience in the future: the external spiritual obstacles that can arise when you commit to a spiritual path. For some, these experiences are already familiar; for others, they are yet to come.
It’s important to understand that these challenges don’t happen to everyone, nor do everyone avoid them. It is simply the nature of the path for many. I feel a strong resolve to explain this because misunderstanding these spiritual obstacles has caused some people to abandon their meditation practice altogether.
I hope to clear up these misconceptions, so you do not give up on your journey.
Why We Meditate: Setting the Right Intention
First, let’s reflect on why we begin to meditate. Whether you started your practice through our articles, with a teacher, or by finding information in a book or online, the intention is key. We meditate to cultivate our inner life and find mental peace.
I have often advised against setting goals like gaining psychic powers or attaining deep meditative states called jhanas. Instead, the most wholesome intention is simply to develop spiritually and find a sense of inner well-being. With this goal in mind, a man or a woman begins their practice. After a short time, a new story often begins to unfold.
The First Obstacle: When Worldly Life Gets Worse
One of the most common stories I hear is that problems suddenly seem to multiply. People report that their worldly troubles increase. Their mother or father may fall ill, or a sibling, spouse, child, or close relative gets sick. Sometimes, it’s a neighbor or someone else in their household. The practitioner feels fine, but trouble seems to gather around them, affecting their loved ones.
If you are a businessperson, you might find that your business starts to decline or even fail. Your income drops. Some people even notice that their circle of friends begins to shrink. These are very real experiences that we have heard about and seen.
This is one side of the spiritual obstacles you might face.
The Second Obstacle: The ‘Bonus’ of Worldly Success
Conversely, some people report the exact opposite. They find that their life begins to improve dramatically. Someone from a humble background might suddenly receive a promotion at work or an unexpected bonus. A business owner might see their enterprise flourish, becoming incredibly busy and successful. While this sounds wonderful, the result is the same: the demands of this newfound success cause them to neglect their spiritual practice.
These are the two sides of the same coin. Either life gets so difficult that meditation feels impossible, or it gets so good that meditation becomes an afterthought. In both cases, people have told me that their spiritual life gets derailed.
Identifying the Source: Understanding the Influence of Mara
So, what is happening here?
I will tell you in a single word: Mara. This is the influence of Mara. In Buddhist teachings, Mara is not a devil, but the personification of the forces that obstruct our path to liberation. Mara is the ultimate tempter, the force that wants to keep us bound to Samsara, the cycle of endless birth and death.
When we begin to practice seriously, whether it’s calmness meditation (Samatha) or insight meditation (Vipassana) to end our suffering, we are trying to escape Mara’s domain.
In response, Mara sets traps for us. These traps appear as the spiritual obstacles I’ve described. The goal is simple: to make you give up; to make you turn away from your spiritual life. This experience is universal for anyone, anywhere in the world, who genuinely commits to the path.
The Foolish Reaction vs. The Wise Response
Now, those who lack wisdom fall into this trap. I recently saw a comment from someone who said they stopped meditating because of these issues. I can only call this a foolish decision. It is precisely when you are doing the right thing that these spiritual obstacles, or these worldly ‘bonuses,’ appear.
As I’ve taught before, when you face intense challenges on your path, it is often an indication, a signal from the universe, that you are going in the right direction.
People call me and say, “My mother got sick, so I had to stop meditating.” Then, after they stopped, their mother got better. Can these foolish people not see the pattern? It was a ploy to pull them away from their practice. If Siddhartha Gautama had given up when faced with obstacles, he would never have become the Buddha, and we would not have these teachings today.
Mara would have tempted him with news of his wife, Yashodhara, or his father, King Suddhodana, falling ill.
Mara often cannot affect us directly because our own spiritual energy becomes strong. So instead, he influences the world around us. And it’s not just Mara. There can be other unseen, non-human beings (Amanussayo) in our environment who dislike spiritual practice.
While some of these beings rejoice in wholesome acts, others are hostile and will add to the external disturbances. The unwise practitioner misunderstands this and thinks, “Oh no, my meditation is causing all this trouble!” They give up on the very practice meant to lead them out of all suffering.
In simple terms, you are harming yourself by not understanding this. Sickness and old age are natural. Your parents and children will get sick someday regardless of your meditation. This is the reality of life. The forces of Mara simply use these natural events, amplifying them at a strategic time to make you quit.
The Natural Shifting of Relationships
Let’s talk about relationships. Some of you have mentioned that your friends disappeared when you started meditating. We must understand that most relationships are temporary. People think, “I have this friend and that friend,” but many of these friendships are conditional.
A true spiritual friend supports your spiritual development. Most other relationships are not like this. Take away your money and see how many friends remain. They are there because you offer them something, even if it’s just gossiped to pass the time.
Imagine you have an accident and are bedridden. People might visit once or twice out of obligation, but then they will disappear. Your parents, or a truly devoted spouse, may care for you. But many others will not. This is the truth. We mistakenly believe our social circle will be with us forever, but it won’t.
When you start meditating, you begin to walk a wholesome path. Naturally, unwholesome friends, those who are undisciplined or bring negative consequences, will fall away. They can no longer relate to you. A person who drinks finds company with other drinkers. A person who chases sensual pleasures finds company with like-minded people. When your values change, your circle changes. This is not a loss; it is a purification.
The Gift of Loneliness: A Positive Reframing
When these relationships fade, especially after years of connection and idle chatter, a sense of loneliness and emptiness can arise. You might think, “This is all happening because I started meditating.” This is not the work of Mara; this is your own weakness. But this very loneliness is a powerful aid for your spiritual growth. It is an incredible help! We must learn to see it positively, as the greatest support.
Instead, we tend to view it negatively: “I am isolated, no one cares about me, I’m not invited to parties or trips anymore.”
A wise spiritual seeker sees this differently. They see it positively. This solitude is a gift, providing more time and space to practice. Understanding this allows you to move forward. Unnecessary relationships are not essential for your life. True, wholesome friendships will remain. But the solitude that comes from shedding the rest is an immense opportunity.
The Ultimate Strategy: Persevere Through Everything
So, what should we do when faced with either of these spiritual obstacles, the negative downturns or the distracting ‘bonuses’? The answer is the same for both. You must understand one thing: these experiences are temporary.
Whether your mother gets dengue fever or your father gets COVID, whether your business fails or you receive a huge promotion, you must continue your spiritual practice without interruption. Persevere through good times and bad, through sickness and health. This is the key.
Why? Because eventually, Mara will learn. He will see, “It’s useless to throw external troubles at this person. They keep meditating. There is no point in obstructing them.” Just as Mara gave up when Siddhartha refused the offer of a universal kingdom, he will leave you be when he sees your unwavering determination.
Follow the example of the Bodhisattva Siddhartha. Continue your practice relentlessly. This applies to those receiving bonuses, too. No matter how many promotions, social invitations, or riches come your way, you must carve out time for your practice.
In fact, if your worldly life improves because of meditation, you can see it as a benefit! But you must not let it distract you. For those facing downturns, continue your practice with even more diligence. As you do, the negative forces will recede. Your family members will recover their health (unless their own kamma, their past actions, dictates otherwise, which is a natural law we cannot prevent). Your business can be rebuilt. Balance can be restored.
Walking the Path: Balance, Self-Reliance, and Inner Strength
You must become like an all-rounder, skillfully balancing your worldly duties with your spiritual commitment. Fulfill your responsibilities to your family, your job, and your community, but never abandon your practice. Maintain your resolve. Continue with your chanting, your loving-kindness meditation, or whatever practice you follow.
As you build this inner strength, you will find that good things naturally start to happen. Your environment will become supportive. You will attract genuine spiritual friends (Kalyana Mitta). Your inner power, cultivated through mindfulness and loving-kindness, will create positive outcomes in your life.
It is crucial to understand that the spiritual path is ultimately one you must walk with what could be called spiritual self-interest (Ātmārthakāmitva). This is not the same as worldly selfishness. While we can teach and help others, the work of liberation is deeply personal.
Even the monks who say, “We will attain Nibbana with our lay supporters,” are mistaken. You cannot attain liberation as a group. Each person must realize the truth for themselves. This spiritual self-focus is a necessary tool for the journey. Whether you are surrounded by people or completely alone is irrelevant. The help you need most is the inner space to practice.
Conclusion: Your Unwavering Resolve is the Way Forward
Therefore, do not be foolish. Do not stop your practice. Whatever spiritual obstacles arise, strengthen your resolve: “I will not stop meditating.” You already know from life experience that challenges are normal. When you study for an exam, don’t people doubt you? When you start a business, don’t people predict your failure? You don’t stop then, do you? You persevere and succeed. Apply the same strength here.
Don’t even worry about labeling these events as ‘Mara’ or ‘unseen beings.’ I only used those terms to help you understand the dynamic. See these challenges as a test of your own weaknesses and an affirmation that you are on the right path.
If your relationships change, if your finances fluctuate, if life throws you a bonus or a burden, see it positively. Think, “This is happening because I am on the correct spiritual path.” Then, simply continue. Continue eating, continue working, and continue meditating. Just as you find a way to eat even in hard economic times, find a way to practice. Over time, balance will return. Good relationships will form. Your life will stabilize, and you can practice in peace, with a strength you never knew you had.
This is how you conquer these spiritual obstacles and advance towards true freedom.
May you all gain the strength and wisdom from the Triple Gem: the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha to overcome these hurdles. May you see them clearly, think positively, and walk this path with right view and unwavering determination.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
