(Minghui.org) I became addicted to viewing social media and playing video games on my cell phone and I slacked off in my cultivation. I was worse than an average person who practices the Tao on and off.
I knew it was wrong and kept reminding myself to stop. But I couldn't seem to control myself. Sometimes I played all night until dawn. The Dafa books were right in front of me, but I ignored them. I thought—just one more game, and tomorrow I'll do better. This went on for weeks.
I became very depressed. On my way home after work one day I recalled what Master said:
“Opportunity knocks but once. Once the illusion that you cannot let go of disappears, you will realize what you have lost..” (“Practicing Cultivation after Retirement,” Essentials for Further Advancement)
That night, however, I failed to control myself again. I played all night and the following day. I went to sleep afraid of what might happen. I kept reciting: “Falun Dafa is good; Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,” and asked Master to help me.
When the alarm went off I turned it off. I debated whether I should just go back to sleep as usual. I suddenly saw numerous Falun spinning in front of me. I quickly got up and started doing the exercises. This time Master's voice on the recording sounded very serious. I felt guilty and unsettled.
After I finished doing the exercises, I picked up Zhuan Falun. As soon as I opened it the first words I saw were “stick warning.” And then I saw the sentence:
“They keep falling and falling until, in the end, they reach this level of everyday people.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun, 2000 Translation)
I started to seriously read the Fa. One paragraph especially stood out:
“The issue of cultivation practice is not child’s play, and neither is it a technique of everyday people—it is a very serious matter. Whether you want to practice cultivation or are able to practice cultivation depends completely upon how your xinxing is upgraded.” (Lecture Two, Zhuan Falun, 2000 Translation)
I didn't realize how serious cultivation was until then. I hadn't taken it seriously at all. How much time and how many opportunities to improve had I missed?!
I saw that Master's new article “Stay Rational” had been published. Master said:
“So now that the divine is starting to eradicate it, all who still stand by it shall perish. Those who doubt this can wait and see.”
“Any Dafa disciples who have not been diligent, or who are prone to acting in extreme ways, should immediately straighten themselves out, and sincerely study the Fa and work on themselves, for you are at great risk.”
“Dafa disciples should not allow themselves to get ungrounded by any of this. Stick to the fundamentals, and you will be able to see the upheaval that’s taking place in the proper light.” (“Stay Rational,” Team Yellow Translation)
I realized that our time is really limited. I began to weep and I apologized to Master. I had a better understanding of what Master said:
“Snap out of it! If even this, the most wicked ordeal ever, can’t wake you up, then when the Fa rectifies the human world you will only be able to watch—watch with shock and regret, with angst and lamentful despair for having done so poorly—the magnificent sight of the Consummation of those Dafa disciples who truly cultivated. It’s a case of reaping what you sow. ” (“In Fa-Rectification Your Thoughts Have to be Righteous, Not Human,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress)
I've now eliminated my attachment to video games. I read the Fa, memorize the Fa, do the exercises, send forth righteous thoughts, and clarify the truth. My righteous thoughts are getting stronger and stronger, and my truth-clarification has also gone more smoothly. My fear is diminishing.
Fellow practitioners, the moment of Fa-rectifying the human world is approaching. The standard and requirements for Dafa disciples are getting higher and higher. At the end of the Fa-rectification, the old forces try their best to take advantage of our loopholes and human notions.
Master said:
“...having made it through to the final phase, we should do even better at what we are supposed to do, for things are all the more critical toward the end.”
“...when we are at the end, you should cherish all of what you’ve accomplished and not—definitely not—let up in your own cultivation.” (“Fa Teaching at 2019 New York Fa Conference” Team Yellow Translation)
Let's cherish this precious opportunity and walk well the rest of our cultivation journey.
Category: Improving Oneself
