When you let go of all dharmas, then you will be what Yung-chia calls the Supreme Observer. The Supreme Observer is one whose vision is liberated and unlimited; one can see everything at once, whether near or far, whether in the past, present or future. A Supreme Observer is not limited to seeing things sequentially. Ordinary people first look at one thing, then a second, then a third, and so on. A Supreme Observer sees everything at once because there are no opposing or obstructing dharmas. The Supreme Observer is a title sometimes used for Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of great compassion.

We cannot see all things at once because we have not attained liberation. We still perceive that we have selves. While there is still a self, there can be no liberation. It can be the narrow self of an ordinary person, or the great self of Godhood. There is no liberation if a self of any kind exists.

Some religions teach that a virtuous god is in eternal conflict with a devil that it created. Inevitably, however, some people ask: "If there is one god, why would it create a devil? Why create such trouble for itself? Why doesn't the god destroy the devil?" Whenever there is a separation between self and others, the others will remain outside and unconquerable. As long as a self remains, the others must also remain. At the stage where there is no Buddha, then there are no demons either. When there is no virtue, there is no evil. When there are no dharmas, then there are no more obstructions. That is liberation.

As a practitioner burdened with karmic obstructions, you must repent sincerely and work hard to resolve your problems. If you can reach the point where there are no dharmas, and therefore no Buddha, then all karmic obstructions will be gone. Until that time, you will be hindered by karmic obstructions, which are the fruits of seeds of actions planted in the past. As long as there is a self, then that self has to pay back all karmic debts.