Break Free from the Attachment of Sentiment

(Minghui.org) Ever since I started practicing Falun Dafa in 1997, I’ve repeatedly encountered tests concerning sentiment, such as my emotional attachment to my husband, son, parents, brother, etc. Every sentiment seemed to pull me down like an anchor and blocked me from cultivating diligently. It was hard to make a breakthrough and get past this when I did not focus on studying the Fa.

My husband has been my test since the first day I began cultivation. I knew that practitioners shouldn’t handle conflicts the same way non-practitioners did. However, I couldn’t hold back my complaints and I always argued a little.

He said, “Your Master taught you not to argue, but you always do. Can you be considered a cultivator?” Afterward, I regretted failing these xinxing tests. I realized that he was helping me eliminate my karma, but I wasn’t able to completely let go of my emotion. Every time I tried to clarify the truth about Falun Dafa to my husband, I spoke emotionally and with the intention to change his mind. I was worried that he would follow the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and miss the opportunity to be saved.

Looking within, I found many human notions blocking me, including the fighting mentality, self-righteousness, blame, jealousy, attachments to lust, complacency, showing off, etc. My attachments made it hard for my husband to see the greatness of Dafa. He even destroyed Dafa books and tore up Master’s portraits. Even though he wrote a statement to void his words and behavior, he built a huge amount of karma for his wrongdoings.

My husband was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2021. He underwent surgery and chemotherapy. His condition stabilized. I looked within and identified all my attachments during the process. After I let go of my attachments, I clarified the truth to him again. He finally realized that Falun Dafa is a great Buddha Law, and following Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance saves people from catastrophes. I took the opportunity to play Dafa music for him. He was receptive and stopped interfering with my truth clarification activities. I’m happy he chose a bright future for himself.

My Son

My son is my only child, and he is smart and energetic. He never liked to put much effort into schoolwork. When he did put his mind to it, his scores quickly improved. He slacked off but then caught up in elementary and middle school, but it didn’t work in high school, because it was much harder to catch up after falling behind. He was admitted to a third-tier college. He couldn’t stand the pressure and had a mental collapse. He had to take a leave after only a month in college.

After coming back home, he went through psychological therapies in hospitals. This was a huge blow and I had a hard time accepting the situation. I couldn’t concentrate while studying the Fa. My mind was so occupied with my son’s condition that I forgot about Dafa and Master. I even resorted to a lesser path to treat my son’s problem, just to help him.

A fellow practitioner talked with me seriously and pointed out that I shouldn’t mix in other practices. She suggested that I study the Fa intensively because the Fa could eliminate all bad things. She said that we Dafa disciples didn’t need to look externally, and Master would look after us and our children. My mind became clear after our conversation.

Master told us,

“Those who are attached to affection for family will definitely be burned, entangled, and tormented by it. Pulled by the threads of affection and plagued by them throughout their lives, they will find it too late to regret at the end of their lives.” (“Cultivators’ Avoidances,” Essentials for Further Advancement)

I realized that the best way was to study the Fa when facing difficulties. I regretted my wrongdoing and promised Master that I wouldn’t make the same mistake. I seized the time to study the Fa and stopped being carried away by my son’s situation. I identified and eliminated my attachments one by one, including my grievances, mentality of showing off, and attachments to reputation and competitiveness. I finally calmed down.

The last time my son was hospitalized, his doctor told my husband and I that our son wouldn’t recover. I remained calm. I took the opportunity to tell the doctor about Falun Dafa. I gave her a brochure and a Falun Dafa amulet. She agreed to quit all the Communist organizations she joined.

When my husband and I went to visit our son in the hospital a week later, another patient’s family member congratulated us. She said that our son recovered and had been moved to a different room. His doctor came, took us to an office, and said, “I apologize for what I said the last time. It must have hurt your feelings.” Excited by our son’s recovery, my husband said, “We are happy to hear he is fine now. I know you didn’t mean to hurt anyone. We appreciate all you have done for our son!”

I knew that Master helped our son through this tribulation when I let go of my sentiments.

After my son was released from the hospital, I talked to him about Falun Dafa and how Master saved him. He decided to begin practicing. He read Falun Dafa books, and his condition kept improving. He eventually recovered completely! Thanks to Master’s grace, my son was saved!

My Family

I also went through tests of emotion with my siblings. As the oldest child in my family, I naturally took the responsibility of taking care of my younger brother and sister. Because my dad worked in another place, my mom had to shoulder all the housework. We were discriminated against because of our family background. My personality was introverted by nature, and I also developed an inferiority complex. Sometimes, Mom would scold me when my brother or sister cried. I grew up thinking it was my responsibility to take care of them.

I especially helped my brother. When he needed money to start a business, I loaned him some without hesitation and let him keep all the profit. I told him that he could return the money whenever he liked. When his son got married, I gave him an extra generous gift. I even planned to help prepare food in the early morning on his wedding day.

However, when I called my brother about my plan, he said, “I don’t want you to come to the wedding.” I was stunned. I didn’t expect him to treat me like this after so many years of caring for him! I couldn’t stop crying.

My nephew called me with comforting words and told me that his dad regretted having said that to me. My nephew insisted that I go to his wedding and even came to talk to me, making sure I would go. I didn’t want to make him worry, so I went to help the day before. The wedding went well and the atmosphere was joyous.

I couldn’t sleep that night. I knew that there must be some problem with my cultivation. My brother is a nice person. Why would he treat me like that? Have I done something wrong?

I decided to study the Fa. It was the only way to find the answer. I gradually calmed down. The principles of the Fa unfolded to me. I realized I still had a strong attachment to sentiment. It was time to get rid of it. My heart brightened.

My brother gained a positive understanding of Falun Dafa. He helps spread the truth of Dafa. My mother often repeats “Falun Dafa is great” and reads Zhuan Falun. She passes on the brochures about Falun Dafa I give her after she reads them. She is in her eighties but is healthy and happy.

As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I can break through any tribulation as long as I measure myself with the criteria of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. The principles of Dafa become increasingly clear to me as I study the Fa. Master has arranged for everyday people around to help us improve our xinxing and dissolve our karma. I should treat everyone with compassion and thank them. It’s the only way to not let down Master’s painstaking arrangements and expectations.

I understand from the Fa that the Three Realms are immersed in sentimentality. Living in illusion, ordinary people don’t know the reason behind their feelings of gratitude or resentment. They are happy about gains and sad about losses under the manipulation of sentiments. I’m so fortunate to be a Falun Dafa practitioner. Master has given us the key - looking within. It’s up to us how to apply it. Let’s break free from the tangle of sentiments and fulfill our mission to offer salvation to sentient beings.