Question asked by Jean
I read the Dorje shugden post and I have some questions.
People can use black magic to harm people – by cursing them with spirits. I am worried that is it possible , in any way for these people to use black magic to somehow STEAL your merits or good fortune psychically? Is that possible?
This thought scare me a lot.
Dear Jean,
Thank you for posting another question. I’m glad that you have read the Dorje Shugden post. According to Buddhist philosophy there is no way that anyway can steal your merits or good fortune. Merits are your own, and good fortune is based on karma, which is again your own. These cannot be stolen by anyone, because it belongs to us and everyone has their own karma and merits.
Now, when we are cursed with black magic and it seems that our good fortune goes down, what is actually happening. At this point, due to the effects of the black magic, our karma to experience good fortune takes a back seat, while our karma to experience suffering ripens and we feel its effects. But why does this happen?
To experience karma, either good or bad, the causes and conditions for it to arise must be there. For example, you have the karma to eat apples. If you live in a land where apples grow, or can be imported from other countries, then you are able to eat apples. But if you live in a country where apples do not grow, and there is no way to get apples from other countries, even though you have the karma to eat apples, you will not be able to eat them.
Similarly, when we are cursed by black magic, the conditions are there for us to experience the negative effects of our karma. Therefore it seems that our good fortune has declined, or that someone has stolen it. This isn’t the case, but it’s that the conditions are there for our negative karma to manifest.
That is why in Buddhism an emphasis is placed on purifying negative karma, and in not creating further negative karma by leading a good life. When we do that, in the future we will not suffer.
However, before then, if we are afflicted by black magic, the compassionate enlightened beings have appeared in forms that can help us alleviate the effects of our karma. These practices work by purifying the karma that causes us suffering and at the same time generating vast amounts of merit, which overshadow the effects of our negative karma, so that our situation improves. One such practice is the practice of Trakze Dorje Shugden, which you can find here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/trakze-to-dispel-black-magic-spirits.html
I hope the above explanation helps. Do post again if you have further questions. Thank you.