(Minghui.org) I have noticed that affection between men and women exists among Falun Dafa practitioners. I cannot be indifferent to this issue because this sentimentality is detrimental to their cultivation.
Society is degenerating at an alarming speed and we are cultivating in this big dye vat. If we don't pay enough attention to our conduct or set strict requirements for ourselves, it is easy to get contaminated without noticing it. The following is my understanding on affection between men and women among practitioners.
Oblivious to Problems of Affection Between Men and Women
I have noticed that many practitioners have developed affection between men and women over the course of cultivation and when doing the three things.
Some male and female practitioners work together for long periods of time and come to know each other well. They take care of each other regarding matters of cultivation and normal living, and even are concerned about whether the other is feeling warm or cold. They sometimes even tell the other about family issues that should remain private. Their relationship is beyond what is appropriate. Sentimentality has been generated.
These practitioners like to talk to each other about their thoughts and take it as sharing or discussion. They have inadvertently developed affection between a man and a woman without noticing. They don't realize that their sentimentality doesn't conform to Dafa. They take the sentimentality for granted because it is normal in current society.
Such affection can grow without the practitioners' noticing and erode their righteous thoughts. The old forces may use this sentimentality as an excuse to drag practitioners down and to interfere with cooperation among the larger group of practitioners. The worse thing is that this sentimentality can be used as an excuse by the old forces to ruin the practitioners.
When some male and female practitioners work together for a long period of time, their relationship may develop to a level that is no longer appropriate for practitioners. Their affection is detrimental to themselves. It affects the one body of practitioners, and damages the reputation of Dafa.
Practitioners Who Are Single Can Easily Develop Affection Between Men and Women
Some practitioners have never married. They interact with fellow practitioners of the opposite gender and become attached without noticing. Single practitioners are simple, reliable, and easy to communicate with. Most of them have good relationships with practitioners of the other gender.
Long-term and close interaction, however, without paying attention to the difference in gender could make the single practitioners develop erroneous thoughts, including thoughts related to lust.
Married Practitioners with Non-Practitioner Spouses
Some married practitioners have non-practitioner spouses who do not understand cultivation issues, especially regarding the persecution. These non-practitioner spouses may be afraid of being implicated by the practitioners' truth-clarification efforts. Such practitioners generally cannot talk about cultivation issues at home, but they interact with fellow practitioners of the opposite gender during Dafa-related activities.
Day in and day out these practitioners cooperate well and begin to notice the fellow practitioners' strengths and where their spouses fall short. This generates affection. Some practitioners pay attention to fellow practitioners of the other gender and wish to receive affirming responses from them. Gradually this sentimentality becomes a big issue.
Some divorced practitioners feel hurt because of their attachment to sentimentality and love. Because they live alone they feel that something is lacking in their lives. After being in contact with fellow practitioners of the opposite gender for a long period of time they become somewhat dependent. They want to talk to the other practitioner and to feel that someone cares about them.
There are some practitioners who even have the sentimentality of love. They invite interference due to their human notions. Divine beings have no married life. Genuine cultivation requires practitioners to eliminate this attachment.
Affection Toward Practitioners of the Opposite Gender Due to Attachments
Some practitioners have not rid themselves of their attachments to fame, personal interest and sentimentality. Their attitude and tone of voice changes when speaking to practitioners of the opposite gender. After working together for a long period of time, male and female practitioners develop feelings for the other, and desire the other's attention.
Some even have better relationships with the other practitioner than with their own spouses. Their affection is so intimate that they cannot tolerate others’ opinions or cooperate with other practitioners when doing projects.
The arrests and persecution of some practitioners in recent years have been related to the attachment to affection between men and women. The persecution affects many projects and causes losses in saving sentient beings.
Over the last two years I have being trying hard to help practitioners in my area realize the serious consequences of affection between men and women. But in the end little has changed. Master Li taught us:
“Each of your attachments could cause your cultivation to fail.” “...to tell you the truth, no one intends for your cultivation to be a success and no one is giving thought to how your cultivation goes. The old forces want only to complete what they want to see completed, and that’s it.” and, “And it is under precisely these circumstances that you cultivate. It really is dangerous if you can’t treat it with all due seriousness.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2015 West Coast Fa Conference)”
From my understanding of Master Li's teaching, I feel that I must remind fellow practitioners to be pure. I call on practitioners to note that affection between men and women is a fundamental tribulation that all divine beings in the cosmos takes very seriously. You must pass it.
I hope that practitioners learn from past lessons and deal seriously with affection toward the other gender. I hope that fellow practitioners will eliminate this interference and continue to validate Dafa with righteous thoughts. Finally, I hope that every practitioner will reach consummation and follow Master Li to return to their true home.
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Category: Improving Oneself
