(Minghui.org) Continued from part 2.
In previous sections, I shared my understanding on how to completely reject instead of partially reject the old forces' arrangements. Actually, every desire that a practitioner is attached to is an acknowledgment of the old forces, because the old forces have utilized and amplified these desires.
We have seen that the old forces seize upon practitioners who have made mistakes with regard to sexual relations. These practitioners might be arrested or sentenced to prison in the persecution. Those who do not make such mistakes but have a strong attachment to lust may also run into many troubles, especially illnesses. Thus, the old forces use the attachment as an excuse to persecute these practitioners in various ways, which are oftentimes as obvious as an arrest.
Attachment to power is strong desire that everyday people have. Many practitioners haven't realized that they also have this and thus get into trouble.
Some practitioners desire to be a coordinator of important projects, some wish to make some great achievements to show off their ability to mobilize people, some cannot take it easily when being removed from a coordinator position, and some coordinators do not want to admit their mistakes and quietly hope their decisions won't cause any damage. Aren't all of these attachments to power?
Some practitioners outside China do not want to follow their project coordinator's instructions but insist on their own way instead. Isn't it a hidden attachment to decide that they have the power to manage their own work? Of course, they can make suggestions to the coordinator, but they should not stubbornly stick to their own ideas if the coordinator gives them other instructions.
They forget that Master has said,
“In terms of … carrying out assignments from our supervisors or other duties, we are very clear-minded and perform them very well.” (Zhuan Falun)
Some are passive in completing their work assignment. Some even come up with excuses to leave the project, not considering how this will affect the whole group.
Practitioners know that if they are attached to self-interest and money, they will run into big trouble. Still, some cannot control themselves and have made mistakes in this area.
Some practitioners don't seek gain for themselves and thus believe that they don't have this attachment. However, they pursue gain for their children, parents, and relatives. Some keep saving money for their children. But, in the end, their overly indulged children often don't take up cultivation, or they take it up and eventually quit.
The old forces are likely to persecute practitioners with many attachments since they have an excuse.
Some practitioners are attached to tasty food, some only want to listen to praise but not criticism, some enjoy material possessions, such as the newest and best smart phones, some love to spend money, and some are addicted to WeChat or other social media.
Some often use everyday people's analysis and logic to handle tribulations, forgetting to follow the principles of Dafa and look within.
Master said,
“If you, as a student [of Dafa], do not follow Master’s requirements, it is definitely no simple thing. The old forces have arranged for all Dafa disciples a set of their things, so if a Dafa disciple doesn’t follow Master’s requirements, he must be following the old forces’ arrangements.” (“Be Clearheaded,” The Essentials for Diligent Progress, Vol. III)
Please think about it: if we follow the old forces' arrangements, we are acknowledging them. Our attachments become a protective umbrella for the old forces, so how can we reject them?
Master said,
“Actually, all that is not aligned with Dafa and Dafa disciples’ righteous thoughts has been caused by the old forces’ involvement, including all the unrighteous factors in you.” (“On the Waves Stirred Up by the Article About Assistant Souls.”)
My understanding is that though Dafa practitioners have unrighteous notions, such as attachments to lust, power, or self-interest, jealousy, and a show-off mentality, those things are not very strong and can be quickly removed in cultivation. However, in the Dharma-Ending period, the low-level old forces can enter a practitioner's body and continually strengthen these bad thoughts. If our main consciousness cannot clean out these notions and attachments, the notions and evil factors residing on these things can control the practitioner's body and even drag the practitioner down.
How can we completely reject them? We should follow Master's teachings and look within unconditionally.
When it comes to unrighteous thoughts, we should never indulge or overlook them. Rather, we need to be serious about them and remove them. Then, the black hands and rotten demons have nothing to seize upon. Only by being vigilant with our attachments and notions can we completely reject the old forces' arrangements.