(Minghui.org) I am a young Falun Dafa practitioner, and would like to share my experiences eliminating my attachment to social media platforms and electronic devices.
Getting rid of My Attachment to Video Games
When I was younger I was never attached to video games, and I disliked them. I also did not know how to connect to the Internet. However, influenced by my classmates, I slowly began playing them and eventually became addicted. I went to my neighbor’s house to play video games since we did not have Internet access at my house.
My self-control was relatively better than other children my age. However, I was still unable to control myself regarding video games. At some point, I even felt something controlling me from the inside, telling me to play video games even though I was tired.
This was the first time I felt a strong attachment like this. I knew this was something I should not do but I still couldn’t help myself and I kept on playing video games. I also knew that it was an attachment, but I was afraid of looking within and facing my weaknesses.
My mind was gradually filled with video games instead of the wonders and beauty of the world. I lost my childhood innocence and the friends I played with became strangers to me.
After a while I no longer felt excitement when playing video games. No matter how fancy or interesting the contents were, they were still confined to the same framework. The goal of creating these contents was to make money and sustain business opportunities. There wasn’t really that much “fun” in it since the so-called “fun” is based solely on one’s own attachments.
Master said,
“If that attachment is relinquished, that material itself does not have any effect. What really interferes with a person is the attachment.” (Lecture Seven, Zhuan Falun)
Seeking entertainment and wanting to be comfortable are excuses. One can become controlled by these electronic devices if too much time is spent on them.
I felt a need to eliminate this attachment. The adults also noticed that my eyes looked exhausted, and suspected that I was playing video games. I denied it on the surface, but deep down inside I knew that lying was bad and I also needed to eliminate my attachment to playing video games. My grades fell behind after playing video games for one full semester of the school year. I decided to quit playing the games.
I felt very uncomfortable not playing video games after a couple of days and there seemed to be a thought in my mind urging me to play them. I knew it was a strong attachment and that I should eliminate it. During this process, I only played once when I went to my neighbor’s house.
When attachments surface, all “legitimate” reasons are excuses, since our attachments need something to deceive the main consciousness so they can survive.
I knew that this was a test for me. Whether I progressed or regressed in cultivation, depended totally on me. Perhaps I met the standards at my level at that time, and along with a heart of determination, I successfully quit my addiction to video games.
Master said,
“That is why it’s said that always cultivating as if you were just starting will surely result in achieving your ultimate rank.” (Fa Teaching at the 2009 Greater New York International Fa Conference)
My experience of quitting video games was a constant reminder to myself to be diligent in cultivation whenever I encountered hardships or tribulations. I encouraged myself that as long as I had the determination like I had while quitting video games, I could pass any hardships.
As I write this, I understand why I was not addicted to playing video games in the beginning. I had limited time on the computer since my classmate was playing with it most of the time.
When I went to my neighbor’s house, I had more time on the computer, and there weren’t any time restrictions. It was not because I did not have this attachment, but in reality, the attachment was deeply hidden and only surfaced when exposed! This was probably what a Chinese idiom means, “It is hard to do the right thing when no one is watching.”
Letting Go of the Attachments to Lust and Electronic Devices
I was exposed to many strong expressions of lust online and my attachment to lust surfaced. I began regressing on this issue by constantly looking at lustful pictures, words, and movies.
I thought about my attachment of lust one day and asked myself, “Would I still be that attached to seeing lustful images online if I saw them in person?” The answer was no. I was shocked, and realized that there was another reason for my lustful desires. My attachment to electronic devices strengthened the lust. This made me truly enlighten to how powerful alien technology is.
Master said,
“This is aliens’ technology, and demons are utilizing it to get you hooked, get you to abandon everything you have, and have you devote yourself to it. It’s wasting your life, yet you are loath to put it down!” (Fa Teaching at the 2016 New York Fa Conference, Team Blue Translation)
I experienced ups and downs with my attachment of lust. At times, when my attachment of lust prevailed, I’d watch pornography and would regret it very much. I was unable to make a breakthrough in my attachment, and felt miserable. While studying Master’s lectures one day, I came across a section of Master’s Fa.
Master said,
“For a practitioner who is truly determined to practice cultivation, I would say that it turns out to be a good thing.” (Lecture Nine, Zhuan Falun)
I enlightened to the fact that my “determination” was still not enough in relinquishing my attachments.
Master said,
“If you can commit your mind, no difficulties can stop you. I would say that there is not a problem.” (Lecture Four, Zhuan Falun
“...so you should forge ahead without any doubt, with righteous thoughts and actions, and do things as I have taught you.” (“2018 Fa Teaching Given in Washington, D.C.” Team Yellow Translation)
“Yet there is also the case where when one fails the first test, one will regret it very much upon waking from sleep. Perhaps this mentality and state of mind will reinforce your thoughts about it. When the issue again arises, you will be able to control yourself and pass the test. If one who fails the test does not care about it, it will be harder to pass later. It is definitely this way.” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)
Upon reading this section of the Fa, I also “regret it very much.” Why couldn’t I pass this tribulation? I enlightened to the fact that those who “regret it very much” are people who took cultivation and Dafa more seriously than I did. This is the reason why I was unable to overcome this tribulation, and kept on making mistakes.
Eliminating Attachment to Using Social Media Platforms
I bought a smart phone when I began attending college. I started using social media platforms like QQ and WeChat to communicate with my friends. Much of our conversations were unnecessary and I realized that I had an attachment to using social media platforms. I reminded myself to be more cautious, and after a while, I was able to eliminate this attachment.
I had to check my cellphone often for homework assignments. I forgot to reply to my friend on QQ once and he was quite upset. I realized that I had to conform to everyday people as much as possible while cultivating. So I began to check my phone regularly, and I became addicted to looking at my phone. When I realized I had an issue, I was quite shocked.
Many issues are unavoidable in the ordinary world while we cultivate and we sometimes have to even repeatedly eliminate a certain attachment.
Master said,
“But practicing cultivation among everyday people is quite complicated. If your family always cooks meat, over a period of time you will find it very tasty again. Such relapses will occur in the future, and they will repeat many times over the entire course of cultivation practice.” (Lecture Seven, Zhuan Falun)
My personal understanding is that we should be more careful about things that might easily stir up an attachment. We need to cultivate more diligently to prevent attachments from relapsing.
To avoid interference, I set my phone to vibrate mode and only occasionally checked it. If there was a problem that needed to be clarified with my classmates, I would set my phone to receive notifications. I would then set it back to vibrate mode after the problem was clarified.
Let us treasure the remaining time and do well in the three things.
Master said,
“Walk well what little is left of your path.” (“Another Stick Warning,” Team Blue Translation)
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Category: Improving Oneself
