Expert: Laurie McLauglin - 5/5/2010

Question
Dear Laurie,
Thanks for offering your knowledge in this way, it's much appreciated.

Since I took refuge and became a Tibetan Buddhist my life has been exceptionally challenging - eg divorce,big sangha issues, being made a scapegoat after whistle-blowing and getting acute leukemia which I was extremely lucky to survive. Recently I heard someone say that the Vajrayana way is the 'fire path' and that after taking refuge a practitioner's karma can 'speed up' and many obstacles can come up. Do you know anything about this - can you confirm this can happen.
Thanks for your help
Janet

Answer
Hello Janet,

Thank you for letting me answer your question.

From everything I have experienced in the nine years I have practiced on the Vajrayana path, it is not altogether uncommon for one's karma to ripen more quickly at various times during ones practice.

Sometimes it can be when one first takes refuge. Often I have noticed it happens when people are planning to take a large empowerment or go to a really important teaching, many obstacles will arise to try to keep one from attending the teachings or empowerment. This has happened to me several times.

Living at a Buddhist center we notice that when the high lamas arrive to teach here that there is usually a fair amount of karma that ripens for people here.  Also when people first arrive to work here, often they find karma ripening quickly for them.

Yep, it happens.  So I rejoice that your karma has ripened and is now extinguished.  And the great thing, at least from my side, is that if we practice the dharma correctly, we can work to purify our past negative karma and prevent future negative karma from developing.

I hope this does not scare you away from the study of the dharma. From my side, the benefits FAR outweigh the negative stuff.

Please don't hesitate to write back if you have any follow up questions or thoughts.

I rejoice at your studies and wish you the highest happiness.