Can merit and blessings guarantee a life without difficulties?

No. Doing good and attending ceremonies do not mean life will never bring difficulties again. Faith can help, while necessary preparation and responsibilities remain. Danger still calls for caution.

I have compared ceremonies to adding points: differences in everyday good deeds and accumulated blessings mean people attending the same ceremony may receive different blessings. The scores were a way to explain, not a table of effects purchasable with money. After a ceremony, keep doing good and examine whether thoughts and actions are adjusting too.

Good deeds build positive connections. From my perspective on karma and energy, more helpful people and well-wishes may lessen harm when facing some events. Yet what needs facing may still occur. One difficulty need not mean every earlier good deed was wasted. Do what is possible now and let faith support continued movement.

It is like a hole in life's road. Suppose a person encounters a low point at thirty. Beginning practice does not necessarily remove the hole, but thinking, outlook, and preparation may differ. Perhaps precautions are ready or the hole can be jumped. Even a fall may cause less harm, with greater understanding of how to face it rather than feeling it is an impassable obstacle forever.

Practice seeks this wisdom in facing events. Besides whether something happened, consider clearer judgment, knowing how to proceed, and reducing harm. Knowing of danger ahead while assuming worship removes all need for attention misses that work.

Donating and helping are good deeds, but do not ask only how much was given without changing everyday treatment of people. Dao Xuan discussed a client's uncle who donated substantial money but still had life difficulties. I believe we need to consider whether contributions genuinely helped and whether original thinking and conduct changed.

This does not mean every donation lacked merit. In my understanding of faith, actual help still matters, although effects may not immediately match expectations. They may arise later or lessen harm. Do not hurt people while hoping one payment erases every problem, nor reject past sincere good deeds because the present is difficult.