The Goal Of Dharma Practice And Mind Cultivation Case Study

3. The Goal of Dharma Practice and Mind Cultivation

What is the purpose of Dharma practice and mind cultivation? A lot of people have the answer to this question: to be reborn in the Western Paradise. However, specifically, to what extent should one cultivate so that he can be reborn in the Western Paradise? How can this be achieved? What will happen if we could not attain the expected level of cultivation? Many may not be able to answer these. In fact, it is a very lofty goal to be reborn in the Western Paradise, and therefore not an easy feat. One familiar example is examination. After a person dies, he/she will have to go through an assessment to determine the path along which his/her soul travels after death - whether to the netherworld
What does the life in heaven or hell look like? The mortal world is in fact a microcosm of different realms, where the different circumstances of life of those around us are a real-life reflection of the Chinese Buddhist Canon (Da Zang Jing): some of us are movers and shakers in high positions, and some are elated with success and leading a carefree life, as if in the Heaven; some are constantly striving and struggling and value the process more than the outcome, which is the typical style in the Asura realm; and most people are concerned about their daily necessities, living an ordinary life without major ups and downs; while some are suffering from illness and disease, going through trials and tribulations throughout their lives, natural and man-made disasters, making their lives a living hell. So it goes without saying that our actual goal is
Every karmic obstacle and every karmic reward, once formed, are tied to you on one end and affinity on the other. Figuratively speaking, karmic obstacles emit black threads which trigger obstruction and are attached to your karmic creditors; while karmic rewards emit white threads which generate support and are derived from your karmic debtors. This, in essence is the Law of Karma. The greater the karmic obstacles or karmic rewards, the thicker the threads will be, and the respective obstruction or support will be greater too. Prior to our birth, our parents who are tied to this 'karmic net' start repaying their debts. After we were born, this 'karmic net' is then attached to our siblings, friends and relatives, and teachers and classmates when we start schooling, and subsequently friends, spouse, children, colleagues and so forth. Each of them repay or claim their karmic debts one after another. This 'net', in fact represents the worldly entanglements. Humans' souls are trapped right in the middle of the karmic net that are bound by affinity, which takes control of the direction forward, thereby resulting in ups and downs of life. Everyday, in every moment, we have been creating or connected to new affinity/karmic relationships. Affinity is arised from our heart. Bodily actions,