My Daughter and I Eliminated Our Internet Addiction

(Minghui.org) When my daughter was a college sophomore, she called to tell me her teacher suggested she take a year off. She was so addicted to her cellphone that her grades were terrible. Instead of listening during class and completing her work, she played on her phone. I was shocked. My daughter had always been at the top of her class.

She started practicing Falun Dafa with me in 2008, when she was in the fifth grade. She was smart, but after she began practicing, she became even smarter. She also became sensible and well behaved. My relatives and friends envied me and some began practicing Falun Dafa. But now, my daughter couldn’t even finish college. Didn’t this reflect badly on Dafa?

My daughter told me that during her freshman year, she was still able to read the Fa and follow Falun Dafa’s principles. She resisted the temptation of playing on her phone, focused on her studies, and her grades were very good. But she gradually relaxed. Her classmates played on their phones and so she joined in. Attending college relies on self-discipline, unlike junior high and high school, where one is encouraged by their teachers. As a result, she gradually became less interested in her studies and became addicted to the virtual world of the Internet. She no longer read the Fa or practiced the exercises. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn’t stop and became depressed.

Internet addiction has become a serious social problem, and I was determined to help my daughter eliminate it. At first, I used many ordinary people’s methods to distract her, such as traveling, or signing her up for art classes, etc., but nothing was effective.

My Daughter’s Behavior Mirrors My Attachments

When I reflected on myself, I realized I was also addicted to the Internet. I even had the urge to check my phone when I went to the bathroom. I shopped online, and constantly browsed my friends’ chat group. My cultivation state was poor. I spent less time memorizing the Fa and when I did, it was like completing a task. The Internet gradually ensnares people. Children, especially college students, are the most affected. Businessmen who are driven by profit control the Internet and, as a result, children and society are harmed.

The misuse of data has led to a situation where people no longer have any privacy. When you go online, you are being watched, and your preferences are recorded. The Internet seduces you, making it difficult for people to concentrate on study and work. It is also filled with fake news and videos, which amplify people’s desires, causing them to become selfish, lazy, and indifferent toward others. They are only focused on their own comfort and happiness!

I knew that only Master Li’s Fa principles could help me correct my cultivation state so that I could help my daughter. I asked my mother, who is also a practitioner, to study Zhuan Falun more with me because I realized that when I had a clear understanding of the Fa, I would know how to proceed. By reading the Fa and looking inward, I discovered my various attachments, such as competitiveness, saving face, showing off, and jealousy. 

My daughter discussed her issues with me. She said that nowadays, one can’t lead a normal life without a cellphone. Without the guidance of Dafa, she found it challenging to resist society’s trends. Faced with the temptations and distractions of the Internet, she struggled in her studies. Excessive phone use also made her lazy and she was reluctant to read the Fa. She knew she needed to break her addiction. However, it was easier said than done.

A Breakthrough

My daughter asked me to help her break her Internet addiction by not giving in when she wanted to use her cellphone on the Internet. I started by uninstalling the WeChat app on my phone. I then disconnected the Internet in our home. I also thanked her for reminding me, otherwise, I would have also found it hard to resist the temptation of playing on my phone.

But after I disconnected the Internet cable, my daughter threatened me. She threw her phone and laptop in frustration. I remained unaffected. In fact, I praised her determination to quit the Internet, which I found admirable. When she paced around the courtyard, I quietly accompanied her. By evening, she told me that she wanted to return to college, and she hoped I would study the Fa with her.

I thank Master and Dafa for saving my daughter!

When her grandmother heard that my daughter had recovered and could return to college, she was very happy. She completely changed her attitude towards Falun Dafa. In fact, my husband, uncles, aunts, brother and sister, all admire the power of Dafa and support our cultivation practice. 

I’m grateful to Master for leading me step by step to look inward through the reflection of my daughter, thereby saving my family.