Methods for facing affliction

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How can we face our problems? We must tell ourselves that everything happens does so for a reason. We don't need to delve exhaustively into the reasons. There's no time for that. Facing and improving the situation is most direct and most important.

Many people say, "I am a good person. Why do I suffer so many hardships?" We need to be aware that with a material body comes karmic retribution and with that comes obstacles. If there is earth with its land, mountains and rivers, there will be sky with its winds, rains, clouds and fog.

Even great practitioners suffer karmic retributions. For instance, the Buddha's toe was struck and hurt by a large rock and he encountered serious illness. However, karmic retribution and obstacles do not necessarily have to lead to affliction. This is where the difference between ordinary people and great practitioners lies.

When ordinary people suffer due to the things they encounter, they lose faith and given up hope. Great practitioners can let go of the self and remain unobstructed by affliction. We follow the Buddha's path in order to emulate his wisdom. In this way, we can discern the causes of affliction and face them, accept them, deal with them and let them go.

Karma must manifest in accordance with conditions. In any circumstances, if you can improve the situation, then do so. If you cannot, then face and accept it. Do not avoid it but strive to improve it. Avoiding responsibility, avoiding karmic retribution is not worth the cost. Trying to improve the situation is the smartest thing to do.

The things you have planned are not necessarily always reliable. Unintended things will occur and when this happens, accept it and then try to find way to deal with it, for this is just the way conditions are.

So, if problems occur in the course of you plans, there is no need to become sad or disappointed. Continue to work diligently to bring conditions to fruition, for the opportunities for success are still there.

If after careful consideration, you decide that the conditions cannot possibly reach fruition, then the only thing to do is to let it go. This is clearly different from giving up without making an effort.

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