(Minghui.org) My father has practiced Falun Dafa for nearly 30 years. He’s been diligent and unwavering on his cultivation path. He traveled to Beijing to appeal for Falun Dafa, produced truth clarification materials, and was subjected to forced labor and imprisonment.
For the past five years he’s been addicted to watching videos on his phone. When my mother (also a practitioner) introduced him to these videos, he thought the content was inappropriate and only watched them occasionally. He gradually became addicted to watching short videos on his phone, and downloaded two or three different short video apps and cycled through them constantly.
After he read articles published in Minghui Weekly which discussed the dangers of watching short videos, my father repeatedly tried to stop, and he uninstalled the apps. But after a few days, he reinstalled them, and watched them as well as videos on WeChat. He was addicted to them, and except for brief periods when he studied the Fa, practiced the exercises, and sent forth righteous thoughts, these videos became his constant companions. His phone was always in his hands, and it seemed he couldn’t control his addiction.
During the past year my father’s cultivation state steadily deteriorated. He fell asleep when he sent forth righteous thoughts, and he could not concentrate while he studied the Fa—he frequently lost his place, skipped lines, or misread. His body showed severe signs of aging, with multiple manifestations of sickness-karma.
My mother, who realized how harmful it was for practitioners to watch these videos, quit watching them years ago. She discussed this with my father nearly every day. He was deeply addicted and ignored her advice, and they argued.
Watching all this unfold, I saw the urgency of the situation. I repeatedly encouraged my father to uninstall the video apps, but each time I failed. My resolve softened when I listened to his raging fury and pitiful pleas.
I failed to measure the situation according to the Fa, neglected my responsibility to a fellow practitioner, and let him continue watching the videos. In doing so, I indulged the evil lurking behind his phone, and I allowed it to continue persecuting him.
Finally, a few days ago, I made up my mind. I took my father’s phone and said: “You can no longer have your phone. If I let you keep watching these videos you’ll be destroyed.” This time, my father was unusually quiet and didn’t say much. Perhaps he already recognized the harm and knew he couldn’t quit on his own—he needed an external force to help him.
He asked for the phone when it was lunchtime. When I didn’t give it to him he walked away. That evening, he said, “I want to check the weather forecast. Hand over the phone.” I refused. He sulked, sitting dejectedly on the edge of the bed, staring out the window, until eventually he lay down and went to sleep.
Without his phone, my father began listening to practitioners’ sharing articles and watching Master’s lectures. The change in him was remarkable. After just one day, I noticed a sparkle in his eyes—the vacant stare was gone—and his actions were no longer sluggish and restless. His mind gradually grew calm, and he was able to focus.
Before, he watched short videos while cooking, eating, using the restroom, or sleeping, he now completes tasks swiftly and efficiently. His once rushed daily routine changed and he handles everything with ease. He now has free to study the Fa.
The day after my father quit watching short videos on his phone, I noticed a change in his appearance—I had a fleeting glimpse of his face looking round and youthful. By the fourth day, while he was studying the Fa, I was astonished to see his appearance change again. His face was like that of a teenager. Though it lasted only a few seconds, I was delighted. It showed my father cultivated well.
Seeing the changes in my father, my heart was filled with joy. Without this interference my father’s field became pure and clear. It was as if I were seeing the father who practiced cultivation before July 20, 1999. Our compassionate and great Master once again gave my father the opportunity to cultivate.
Recalling how I previously forced my father to uninstall apps from his phone, I realized I’d been acting from a human perspective—using a child’s affection to compel him to do things, thinking: “I’m doing this for your own good,” and, “You should listen to me.”
This time, I also used forceful measures by taking his phone, but I did so as a cultivator—I was sincerely concerned and took responsibility for my fellow practitioner. The three days of my father’s phone detox were not peaceful. It required sending forth righteous thoughts and rigorously clearing away the evil elements within his field.
I can’t imagine the consequences if my father hadn’t eliminated his addiction. Other practitioners noticed his sluggish responses and vacant stares. He’d been distracted and careless during their discussions about the Fa. The practitioners asked him several times, “Have you been watching videos?” My father evaded their questions. After persistent questioning, he finally admitted he had. The practitioners then reminded him of the dangers of watching short videos.
I realize that it’s not just short videos on mobile phones, WeChat, online games, and the like that we should give up. We cannot wait until we become addicted to them, and only then look within.
We must proactively do well, actively assimilate to Dafa, and refrain from doing anything that does not meet the standards of Dafa. Master cherishes us, and we must cherish ourselves. Fellow practitioners, let us let go of ordinary human attachments and truly cultivate. Time is running out!
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Category: Cultivation Insights
