Some Understandings about Sentimentality

By a Falun Dafa disciple from China

(Clearwisdom.net) Humankind is soaked in sentimentality and thinks that emotions are very precious. People do things for friendship, pursue a happy and peaceful life, and seek to be confidant. These are what ordinary people pursue. However, throughout the karmic relationships forged through many generations, people become entangled by sentimentality, and many people forget the way home. Even some cultivators become very confused and slack off because of sentimentality.

Being cultivators, if we try hard to hold on to something from human society, if we try to pursue something, if we are afraid of being hurt, or if we seek happiness, our starting point is selfishness. Those thoughts are ordinary people's thoughts.

Teacher says in "True Cultivation:"

"As a matter of fact, when you agonize over infringements upon your reputation, self-interest, and feelings among everyday people, it already indicates that you cannot let go of ordinary human attachments. You must remember this: Cultivation itself is not painful--the key lies in your inability to let go of ordinary human attachments. Only when you are about to let go of your reputation, interests, and feelings will you feel pain." (Essentials for Further Advancement)

Many cultivators who have good predestined relationships with Dafa get attached to the emotions of ordinary people and cannot let them go. They cannot look inside when encountering conflicts, and family disputes can thereby intensify. They are severely persecuted by the old forces because of that loophole. Cultivation is not for pursuing the so-called happy and peaceful life. We are not coldly ignoring anything either, because we have gotten rid of that emotion as well. We should balance our cultivation and our personal lives well, keep righteous thoughts, and do what Teacher arranges for us well. We should be diligent in Fa study and do the exercises, take good care of our families, do our daily work well, and tell the truth about Dafa to people. How can we be moved by sentimentality?

Actually, Teacher has told us everything in the Fa. When a test comes or when we cannot let the attachment go, it is time for us to improve ourselves. Everything in human society is an illusion that exists due to our attachments. We should keep our xinxing levels up, be unmoved by ordinary people's thoughts, keep righteous thoughts, and get rid of all unrighteous elements in our body. We should have a pure and calm heart, study the Fa diligently, place greater emphasis on sending forth righteous thoughts and clarifying the facts, and walk our paths well.

The above is my personal understanding. Please kindly correct me if anything is incorrect.

June 9, 2007

Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/6/10/156632.html

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