(Minghui.org) The Minghui article “Cell Phones Are a Den of Evil,” deeply resonated with me. I’d like to tell you about some of my insights regarding cell phones.
I was arrested and detained for several days after talking to people about Falun Dafa. I looked inward and reflected on many longstanding cultivation issues. One major problem was my smartphone.
Although practitioners still have various attachments that may hinder their cultivation, smartphones tend to amplify them. Take my own case as an example: over time, I noticed that my lack of seriousness in cultivation, my improper mindset toward certain tribulations, and my inability to let go of attachments seemed to follow a cycle. I sometimes remained undisturbed, but during other times, I was stirred by temptations that gradually developed into strong desires.
Before I became addicted to digital devices I usually overcame such tests by strengthening my righteous thoughts. However, once I started watching online videos, I found it difficult to stop. Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t resist. My mind would grow numb, and my fingers would mechanically tap the screen, allowing myself to be manipulated. I always regretted it afterward, and I knew my addiction was a serious loophole. I tried to correct it. After a while, the same cycle would repeat.
I noticed that excessive phone use was eating into my cultivation time. Although I still managed to maintain my daily Fa study, I reduced the amount of time I did the exercises. When I didn’t do the exercise regularly, my eyesight worsened, and my memory and mental clarity declined noticeably. I became increasingly forgetful and slow to react.
While I was writing this article, I made a firm decision to use my smartphone only when necessary. Other practitioners offered helpful suggestions: keep the phone in a separate room while you’re at home, and uninstall apps like Tiktok. From my experience, once you start watching short dramas, it’s impossible to stop. Negative thoughts related to fame, profit, sensuality, and anger constantly fill one’s mind. The change is subtle at first, but one day it may lead to a dangerous transformation. It’s frightening to think that a practitioner’s fundamental beliefs could be shaken, potentially undoing our cultivation!
Now that the final phase of the Fa-rectification has arrived, it is time to truly let go of our addiction to these devices. I noticed that many fellow practitioners who cultivate well seldom use their smartphones. In contrast, it seems that a large proportion of practitioners who habitually watch WeChat videos seem to have many tribulations.
I wholeheartedly agree with a practitioner who said that the content on social media that is truly beneficial to us is negligible. While some events and gossip may seem exciting to read about, their authenticity is hard to verify, and they can lead us to become attached to time. The Minghui editorial team has long advised practitioners to uninstall WeChat. If someone must use it for work, that is understandable – but it should never become a source of entertainment.
I’ve personally experienced the deep impact of smartphone addiction—it’s like a drug. To truly overcome it, we must resolve to realign ourselves with the Fa, and this must come from a genuine, heartfelt desire to let it go. Because our thought karma can produce endless excuses: “I need to do research,” “I have to contact friends,” “I’m just checking a purchase” – these all seem harmless, yet our addiction gradually undermines our years of cultivation and interferes with our historic mission.
Fellow practitioners, let us take this matter seriously. Eliminate your excessive smart phone use, just as you would avoid a den of evil—the devices are a source of mental pollution. We should make good use of our limited time and cherish this final opportunity to cultivate.
These are my recent insights. Please kindly point out anything inappropriate.
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Category: Cultivation Insights
