How I Overcame the Attachment to Computer Games

(Minghui.org) I used to be addicted to computer and cellphone games, so I know how hard it is to let go of the attachment.

I am a practitioner who works in the news department of NTDTV. Cultivation in Dafa's media environment is really not easy.

I also used to work for a company in mainstream society. My colleagues were constantly fighting and competing with one another. My habit was to complete my work during the day and use the evenings to attend group exercise practice and talk to people about the persecution of Falun Gong.

I was in a good cultivation state at that time since all I wanted was to do the three things with my fellow practitioners, and I had no time or desire to be entertained by ordinary people's media.

After I started at NTD, I could see that the working environment was dramatically different. Every one of us is a practitioner, and no one fought for fame or personal benefits.

The conditions seemed relaxed, but it was more difficult to practice cultivation in this environment. Since it took a lot of time to complete our work, it was very easy to let ourselves slack off in cultivation.

Because NTD is a media company, we had to watch a lot of ordinary people's things. If we let ourselves slack off, we could gradually cultivate less diligently. As a result, we might behave like ordinary people doing ordinary people's things.

Before NTD, I had never played computer (or cellphone) games. Even after I started working at NTD, I had no desire to play them since the workload was so heavy. I had to practice shooting videos in the morning and practice broadcasting in the evening. I usually got home around 1 a.m., and I had to wake up early to attend group exercises. I really did not have any time for anything else.

Eventually, I got used to the workload; however, in order to make our media more professional, the programs for “Good Morning, NTD” and a noon newscast were added.

Because we had only limited manpower to support the morning, noon, and evening news shows, everybody's workload became extremely heavy, and gradually my Fa study and exercise practice became less frequent. At this time, I experienced tribulations caused by sentiment, and in order to relax I started playing video games.

Gradually, I became addicted to them. I then started to read ordinary people's fiction and watch soap operas.

My condition was exactly what Master described in Zhuan Falun:

“Upon seeing that it’s pretty good, the animal will use it like a prelude to a piece of music. “Since he wants it, I’ll attach to his body. That way I can give him more things and do it more easily. Didn’t you want the celestial eye? Now you’ll be given everything.” And so it comes and takes possession.”

When I look back at my behavior during that time, I see that I was controlled by the games and not just playing them. I only had time to run some errands, and I had no time to study the Fa or practice the exercises.

Although I became less and less diligent, Master did not give up on me. Master arranged for me to attend a group sharing conference for the coordinators in the Jiangtan area.

During the conference I felt like the monks in the old days who lived apart from everyday society. I studied the Fa and shared experiences with fellow practitioners without a second thought. My heart was suddenly cleansed and I felt the way I had when I first started cultivating.

One of the discussions was about why drowsiness can interfere with sending righteous thoughts or practicing the exercises. I paid special attention to this since the same problem had bothered me for a long time.

One of the practitioners shared what her local group had discussed. Their understanding about the Internet was similar to the principle of “No Second Discipline” that Master mentioned in Zhuan Falun. She used Facebook as an example.

When we look at it for entertainment, or when some interesting topic attracts our attention, we are asking for it. If we hold on to Dafa in one hand and ordinary people's things in the other, we are putting our feet on two boats at the same time. In addition, when we read the articles or watch the video clips, these things enter our bodies. Thus, they can seriously interfere with us when we send righteous thoughts, study the Fa, or practice the exercises.

Master said:

“Do you know what it means to “have heard” or “have seen” something? It’s not what people think, where after you’ve viewed something, it’s over with if you didn’t take it with you; or when you’ve heard something but didn’t pursue it further, it doesn't matter. That’s not the case. All things are material. When you have heard something, it has been infused into you, and it enters your body. When you have seen something, it has entered.” (“Fa Teaching on World Falun Dafa Day”)

Shocked by the practitioner’s words, I finally realized why I could not be diligent. I played so many games, read so much fiction, and watched so many soap operas—that's why I was interfered with so seriously.

Therefore, I deleted all the games and books right away.

Later, during another sharing between practitioners, I heard that the first practitioner had cultivated for 17 years and never missed practicing the exercises. There were 15 people at that location and no one had ever slacked off.

Hadn't I been the same as them before? No matter how exhausted I was, I strove to do the three things well every day. Why couldn't I be diligent now?

At that moment, I made up my mind: No matter how tired, I would attend the group practice every day.

I heard that although practitioners had deleted digital games before, many of them began playing again later. My thought was: If we are determined to do something well, we can definitely do it.

Now, I attend group practice every day, and if I am in charge of the early shift, I leave home around 4 a.m.

Other than work, I use a lot of time to study the Fa and read articles from the Minghui website. The articles from steadfast practitioners always encourage me to cultivate diligently. Gradually, I lost all interest in playing games, reading fiction, and watching soap operas.

A few days ago, when I was ready to study “Fa Teaching at the 2007 New York Fa Conference,” I found that the words, “catch up in those regards” were shining on the page. I teared up and felt appreciation for Master's merciful arrangements.

Thank you Master! Thank you fellow practitioners! Please kindly point out anything improper.