Addiction to “Self” Is a Serious Obstacle in Cultivation

(Minghui.org) Recently, I have become more and more aware that my fundamental attachment is to myself. This attachment has become a serious obstacle in my cultivation, which made me unable to enlighten to the Fa principles and return to my true self.

About two months ago, I suddenly had a tribulation. One day after attending group Fa study, I had severe back pain and couldn't straighten up at all. I was a little afraid and asked Master for help. I said in my heart, “I am Master’s disciple, and I do not want or acknowledge any arrangements other than Master’s in my cultivation.”

I sent righteous thoughts while slowly walking home. It took me half an hour to walk about 500 meters. During the following days, I had severe pain in my back and legs, which made me unable to sleep for several days. I continued to send righteous thoughts. The pain started to subside, but I still couldn't walk. I became worried because this problem affected my ability to go out and clarify the truth to people. I looked inward and found many attachments; such as resentment, sentimentality, self-interest, and others.

Master gave me a hint last year. Last winter, my neighbor told us that our water pipe leaked. I realized I must have loopholes in my cultivation at that time. I looked inward and found some attachments but not my fundamental attachment, and left it at that.

Another day, I noticed there was a small hole in my cooking pot. Wasn’t this again telling me that I had a loophole? However, same as last time, I found some attachments but not my fundamental attachment. It seemed that I had accumulated too many attachments and the old forces were taking advantage of my inadequate cultivation state.

Recently, practitioners in my area discussed how to get rid of human notions, which helped me a lot. I suddenly realized that I had an attachment to self.

Master said,

“The cosmos in the past was based on selfishness. Let’s take man as an example: When it came to crucial moments he truly couldn’t care less about others.” (Teachings at the 2004 International Conference in New York) 

I realized that the old cosmos was based on selfishness; but the new cosmos will be selfless. We should think about other people in everything we do and measure everything and every thought against the Fa. We are getting rid of human notions when our thoughts comply with Dafa.

Master told us,

“If you do not want to change your human state and rationally rise to a true understanding of Dafa, you will miss the opportunity. If you do not change the human logic that you, as an ordinary human, have formed deep in your bones over thousands of years, you will be unable to break away from this superficial human shell and reach Consummation.” (“Cautionary Advice,” Essentials for Further Advancement)

Master also said,

“If every one of you can understand the Fa from the depths of your mind, that will truly be the manifestation of the Fa whose power knows no boundary—the reappearance of the mighty Buddha Fa in the human world!” (“Cautionary Advice,” Essentials for Further Advancement)

Editor’s note: Views expressed in this article represent the author's own opinions, for which the author is solely responsible. Readers should evaluate the article's merits on their own.