Warning about Attachment to Smartphones or Social Media

(Minghui.org) Smartphones are very convenient and can provide much help to many aspects of our life. But it can be addictive, much more so than tobacco or alcohol, or even drugs. Some people rely on their phone so much that they do not know how to live without it, including some Falun Dafa practitioners. 

As Dafa cultivators, we practice cultivation in ordinary society and it is inevitable for us to use a cellphone. But we need to abide by Master’s requirement. It is definitely an attachment if we rely too much on the cellphone. 

Master told us:

“Each of your attachments could cause your cultivation to fail.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2015 West Coast Fa Conference”)

I was once persecuted because I was addicted to WeChat, the popular social media app in China. I spent a lot of time chatting with people, watching videos and playing games. My cellphone contained contacts of many ordinary people. Luckily, I didn’t keep any of our fellow practitioners’ information in it. After I was released, I was still under surveillance. 

I uninstalled WeChat immediately and hardly used my cellphone since then. I never carry it when I go out. Because of that, I was able to narrowly escape a well-planed arrest. 

When others asked me why I no longer use WeChat, I told them that it was for health purposes. My vision and hearing were affected by the overuse of my cellphone and I was having sleeping issues for using the phone for too long. Now I have more time to do what needs to be done. 

I had a vivid dream: I held a magic mirror and saw all sorts of terrible faces of monsters and demons. I sent forth righteous thoughts toward the mirror. The mirror immediately revealed itself – my phone!

Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s current understanding meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare with one another in study, in cultivation.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)