Date: 04/05/2025 04/06/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Knowledge
Obstacles on the Path of Practice
The path of Buddhist practice is clearly defined: to overcome delusion, to cultivate wisdom, and ultimately to attain liberation. Yet walking this path is far from easy. Because the journey is inward—one that challenges deeply rooted habits, views, and emotions—obstacles inevitably arise. These may come from external circumstances or internal patterns. Recognizing and understanding these obstacles is essential if we are to move forward rather than become stuck, disillusioned, or misled.
One of the most common obstacles is laziness and distraction. True practice requires consistent effort, but many practitioners struggle with procrastination, busyness, or mental restlessness. Especially in the early stages, when results may not be obvious, enthusiasm can wane. Without strong intention and clear motivation, one easily drifts away. This is why faith and aspiration are vital supports for sustaining energy over time.
A second obstacle is attachment to meditative experiences. Some people encounter states of calm, light, or bliss during practice and begin to cling to them, mistaking them for enlightenment. This attachment halts progress and fosters pride. But all such experiences are impermanent; they come and go. Without insight into their emptiness, one remains bound by them. True realization lies beyond any particular state—it is the freedom from clinging itself.
A third obstacle is doubt and loss of confidence. When difficulties arise, practitioners may begin to doubt the teachings, the path, or their own capacity. They may jump from one method to another, never going deep. Others may feel unworthy, believing their karma is too heavy or their mind too impure. Without confidence in the possibility of transformation, progress is impossible. As the Buddha taught, faith is the seed from which all virtues grow.
The fourth obstacle is emotional reactivity and unresolved afflictions. As mindfulness deepens, one becomes more aware of hidden anger, fear, jealousy, and desire. This can be disorienting. Some may believe that practice should eliminate all afflictions quickly, and become discouraged when emotions persist. In truth, practice is not about instantly erasing emotions, but about understanding and transforming them. This takes time, patience, and skill.
Another major obstacle is ego and attachment to views. Ego manifests as a sense of “I am the one practicing,” “I am progressing,” or “I know better.” This tightens the mind and limits growth. Similarly, attachment to specific methods or philosophies can create rigidity and narrowness. True Dharma practice requires humility, openness, and the willingness to question even one’s most cherished beliefs.
The pursuit of mystical experiences or miraculous signs can also derail practice. Some practitioners become obsessed with visions, energies, or “supernatural confirmations.” When these don’t appear, they feel discouraged; when they do, they become attached or even arrogant. But the heart of Dharma is not spectacle—it is clarity, simplicity, and letting go. The greatest transformation often occurs in the most ordinary moments.
There are also external challenges—noisy environments, family opposition, time constraints, cultural misunderstandings. While these are real, they are ultimately neutral. Whether they become obstacles or stepping stones depends on the mind’s response. A strong, grounded practitioner can transform adversity into fuel for growth. Conversely, even ideal conditions won’t help if the mind lacks focus.
Buddhist teachings classify obstacles into afflictive hindrances (kleshas) and cognitive hindrances (asravas)—the former block liberation, the latter block wisdom. The antidotes include ethical conduct, meditation, study, and especially mindful awareness. The key is not to fight obstacles but to investigate them. Every difficulty reveals something about the mind. When approached with insight, obstacles become teachers.
Ultimately, the path of practice is not about avoiding obstacles, but about learning to meet them with skill. As one Zen saying goes, “Obstacles do not block the path—they are the path.” Each struggle is an opportunity to strengthen faith, deepen insight, and cultivate compassion. A practitioner who learns to walk through difficulty without losing direction is already manifesting the fruits of the path.
True progress is not marked by the absence of challenges, but by a growing capacity to face them with calm, clarity, and resilience. In this way, each obstacle becomes a stepping stone toward awakening—not something to fear, but something to embrace and learn from.
