Another aspect of the expiation of karma is that the very strength of one’s practice is what brings about resistance both within ourselves and from the people around us, and allows hidden flaws within ourselves to arise where they can be seen, recognized, and resolved. Nichiren cites Zhiyi who wrote, in regard to the practice of calming and contemplation meditation, ”The merit of trivial acts of practicing Buddhism without calming the mind and contemplation of the truth is not strong enough to bring out our past sins hidden in ourselves. Only when we practice calming the mind and contemplation of the truth under any circumstances can we bring our past sins out to the surface.” (Hori 2002, pp. 106-107 adapted) Zhiyi also warned that, “We will then be confronted at once by the three obstacles and four devils.”