The Attachment to Pursuit Is a Big Obstacle in Our Cultivation

(Minghui.org) Personally, I think, in a broad sense, the attachment of pursuit is a desire. Even everyday people have the saying, “Greediness compromises strength,” so as practitioners, we must all the more so let go of this attachment. The manifestations of the attachment to pursuit vary; some are very obvious and others are hidden. This attachment is a big obstacle in our cultivation, and therefore, we must find it and let go of it. This is very important for us.

I believe that when we are attached to gaining, or wanting something to develop according to our own will, that this is the attachment of pursuit. Perhaps it is alright when we have a wish or a desire that is a good intention, but we should not be attached to it. Teacher said, "Gain naturally without pursuit." (“Lecture in Sydney, 1996”) This is because the attachment of pursuit and desire is in essence a selfish characteristic, which runs counter to the principle of attaining the righteous enlightenment of selflessness and altruism. Even if you are attached to reaching consummation, that is also selfishness.

When I read Teacher's poem “Inaction” from Hong Yin I, which in my understanding states that we must cultivate without any pursuit, I realize that it is a test of our xinxing and something every practitioner must pass. Therefore, when practitioners do the three things, their heart must be as clear as water and we must look inward for any attachment to pursuit. Whenever we find the impure substance of the attachment to pursuit, even a little bit, we must let it go. To reach this state of inaction, we must earnestly study the Fa, enlighten to the Tao and elevate our xinxing. We must keep in mind Teacher's words,

“One should not want anything, and neither should one pursue anything. A practitioner believes he should only focus on practicing, without paying attention to obtaining gong. In cultivation and practice one should be in a state free of intention. ” (Zhuan Falun, Lecture Two, The Issue of Pursuit )

I hope to strive forward vigorously together with fellow practitioners! Please kindly point out any shortcomings I may have in my understanding.