First, it is important to understand the meaning of the expression “having merit but being obstructed by karma.” One interpretation is that you seem to be about to obtain something or achieve success, but then something gets in the way, causing you to miss the opportunity or fall short.
He explains that if merit is being obstructed by karma, the solution is to accumulate a little more merit. The merit is already there, but it has not yet reached the point. It is like striking a flint to make fire. If you strike it one hundred times, enough heat will accumulate for a fire to ignite. But what if you stop after only ninety-nine strikes? You are just a little short. You can already see the smoke, but once you stop, the fire never ignites. It is truly a pity.
Therefore, continue to cultivate merit through generosity, observing moral precepts, and practicing meditation. Add just a little more merit, and this time, with merit present and karma no longer standing in the way, everything can be accomplished successfully.