(Clearwisdom.net) Throughout the eleven years of the persecution of Falun Gong, I have seen practitioners become lost on their path of cultivation. They have been dragged down by the attachment of sentimentality, and I know of many practitioners who have written guarantee statements against their will. By studying Master's recent Fa lecture and reading fellow practitioners' experience sharing articles, some of these practitioners have come to realize that they did something a cultivator should not do, and then made solemn statements to expose their wrongdoings and confirm their commitment to continue in cultivation.
A fellow practitioner's brother, a non-practitioner, helped the police to arrest him. The practitioner's brother cared for him, helped him financially and the two were seemingly getting along well together, so why did his brother turn him in to the police? The practitioner said that his brother was running as a candidate to be the head of the village. In order to boost his chances of getting the position, he told the police that his brother practiced Falun Gong. The practitioner's brother then promised his sister-in-law that as long as his brother listened to him, did not go on a hunger strike and did not shout, "Falun Dafa is good," in the brainwashing center, he would be able to bring him home in ten days. This practitioner did not use righteous thoughts to deny the persecution, and instead listened to his brother's words. He also stated that he could save people at the brainwashing center by telling them the facts about Falun Gong. When the practitioner returned home with his brother ten days later, his mental state was not good, and he was unable to readjust his thoughts and start practicing again.
This practitioner was affected by the attachment of sentimentality between family members. Affection between siblings is normal as this exists in the human world, but as Fa-Rectification practitioners, we have to break through this emotion. We have to clarify the facts to our family members and help them understand that whoever participates in the persecution will meet with karmic retribution, and refrain from interfering with their family members who are practitioners. This is a practitioner's responsibility. When we run into difficulties and are unable to break through the attachment of sentimentality, it amounts to following the arrangement of the old forces, and allows our family members to be manipulated by them.
If we are not able to view the problem with righteous thoughts, not able to regard ourselves as practitioners and do not listen to Master, this will inevitably harm our loved ones. The interference is not limited to our individual cultivation, but also extends to the Fa rectification, and prevents us from saving sentient beings. Cultivation in the Fa-rectification period is a very serious matter. It cannot be led by sentimentality.
On the final path of Fa-rectification, sentimentality is still interfering with practitioners. We must all pay close attention to this problem. Practitioners who are still controlled by family members, and who are still not able to come out to clarify the facts and save sentient beings, awaken quickly! Let us sever the bonds and interference from sentimentality. A practitioner should do what Master has asked us to do. We must not leave sorrow, shame and remorse for our future life. Master saved us, and divine beings eagerly await our return.