(Minghui.org) I met a female Dafa practitioner who I gradually developed feelings for after we got to know each other. We eventually had an improper relationship, yet I had the thought that our meeting was predestined.
Driven by lust and desire, our improper relationship lasted for a long time. I did not even realize that we had committed a crime against Dafa, even when other practitioners noticed the affair and tried to help me realize it.
Master Li's words kept echoing in my ears:
“…many people have not behaved decently, and have not taken their own cultivation seriously. This will bring you trouble, hardship, even pain, or even the loss of your life.” (“Fa Teaching on World Falun Dafa Day”)
On the surface, sentimentality, lust, and desire seem to be a part of one's true self. But they are actually rotten matters in the human world and a life-and-death trial on a practitioner's cultivation path.
In this turbulent world, there are many elements that impact people. Things that people consider good can turn out to be bad in gods' eyes. The test of lust is a big test for a practitioner. If one's main consciousness is not clear, or one's righteous thoughts are not strong, it will cause one to stumble in cultivation and make it hard to stay diligent.
Master did not give up on me and gave me hints multiple times. In several dreams, I could never find my way back after going to the female practitioner's hometown. I realized that Master was warning me to snap out of sentimentality, lust, and desire.
Master said,
“Dafa disciples: I said long ago that sexual attraction and desire are a fatal roadblock that a cultivator absolutely must overcome. [Those people are] driven by human feelings and emotions way too much. If they can't even pull themselves out of this little thing, then it would seem that back then the old forces should have arranged to put them behind prison walls in Mainland China, as only under those circumstances would they correct the problem, right? I wonder how you'd behave in a brutal environment like that. Are you like this because your life is too comfortable?” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2004 Western U.S. Fa Conference” from Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. V)
There is no way for practitioners to return to their original true selves if they hold on to attachments and desires.
Lust can make one lose one's willpower. If a practitioner cannot let go of his desires, he will fail to reach enlightenment. Only by continuously eliminating one's attachments and immersing oneself in the Fa, can one gradually reach godhood.
I realized the difference between a human and a god: when our human thoughts are dominant, then we are human, but if our righteous thoughts are strong, then we are on the path towards godhood.
The Fa-rectification has progressed to the final stage, and I should snap out of all these attachments. Otherwise not only will I face elimination, but the sentient beings who have placed their hope in me may also not be saved.
Master said,
“Everything that Dafa disciples do is clearly displayed before the eyes of higher beings. So be sure to do well and win their admiration.” (“Teaching the Fa at the 2002 Fa Conference in Boston” from Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. II)
Remembering Master's words, I felt deep remorse and shame. I had let Master and Dafa down. I should walk my path righteously in order to fulfill the vows I made.
Cultivation is very serious. If we slack off a little, many of the attachments we've let go of in the past may relapse. We can even go astray if we are not able to enlighten to this. During the final leg of cultivation, we must be strict with ourselves and always be aware of sentimentality, desire, and lust. We should not undermine this precious cultivation opportunity due to our attachments.
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Category: Improving Oneself