(Clearwisdom.net)
Master said:
“In the course of cultivation practice, one is to give up different desires and attachments. To put it plainly, if the desire to eat meat is not removed, isn’t it that the attachment hasn’t been abandoned? How could one complete cultivation? Therefore, as long as it is an attachment, it has to be removed.” (Zhuan Falun)
As Dafa disciples cultivating the righteous Fa, we walk the path of return to our original nature. Only this is an expression of Buddha nature. This is not an attachment, but all human things we cannot let go of are attachments.
Many fellow practitioners in our area display numerous attachments in their daily lives, but don't realize that they are attachments. Some like to eat certain foods and dislike other types of food, some focus on whether certain foods are nutritious or not, and some indulge in watching TV and reading newspapers. They don’t even seem bothered about not stepping out to save sentient beings. Nor do they focus on improving their xinxing, with some only visiting fellow practitioners that they like in order to not feel lonely. Some go shopping even when they don't need anything, and some don't truly treat themselves as cultivators, by not striving forward vigorously even when they know they have long-lingering attachments.
Master said:
“Therefore, throughout history the accomplished monks have also found that the matter of whether one eats meat is not a critical issue. The key question is whether the attachment can be abandoned. If one does not have any attachment, it is fine to eat just about anything to fill the stomach.” (Zhuan Falun)
From studying this Fa I have come to understand that what cultivators do in daily living is not the main issue. The key is letting go of the attachments. If you feel compelled to do something, then it becomes an attachment. In order to conform to everyday society and way of living, fellow practitioners keep themselves clean and their houses neat, and female practitioners wear makeup and dress nicely. I don't believe these are attachments, as this behavior is selfless. But if overdone, it can become an attachment. I know that some senior practitioners soak their vegetables in water to wash off any pesticide, because they are afraid it will poison them. That is an obvious attachment, and one is actually asking for it. If we acknowledge that things can harm us then they might well cause trouble for us. If we negate these things in our hearts, they will not be able to affect us at all.
I noticed that most fellow practitioners, including myself, have some of these very human attachments. I mention them today because some practitioners don't recognize them as such. Yet we are in the final phase of Fa rectification, and only when we let go of all attachments can we consummate. I hope that all fellow practitioners will genuinely cultivate away the long-term, as well as the new attachments they have in their daily lives.
We are cultivators walking on the path of godhood, and we should not harbor human notions with regard to our attachments.
Master said:
“What is a human?
Full is he of emotion and desire.
What is a God?
Human thoughts are nowhere found.
What is a Buddha?
Benevolent virtue is amply endowed.
What is a Dao?
A realized being, serene and clear.”
(“The Difference Between Mortal and Divine” from Hong Yin)
Lets keep reminding ourselves who we are and be genuine and steadfast in cultivating away of all our human attachments.
