Understanding the Harmful Effect of Watching Everyday People's Movies and TV Shows

(Minghui.org) As Falun Dafa practitioners, we all know that ordinary people’s movies and television (TV) shows have a great influence on practitioners’ meditation ability.

When I attended college, I liked watching American dramas and movies. Without a doubt this can be said to be one of my biggest hobbies. Once, I watched shows for 12 hours nonstop, and my eyes hurt so much that I couldn’t stop the tears covering my face. It felt as if a magic power from the computer screen was in control of me and would not let me shut off the TV. The rational side of my mind wanted to stop, but my body was out of control.

I quit many times back and forth. That is, I stopped watching movies and TV shows, but, my control didn’t last long, and I started to watch TV again. I remember one time, I stopped looking at them, but my heartbeat reached 200 per minute, so fast that I couldn’t sit still. My hand was shaking and I could not hold a cup. I couldn’t bear the panic. After I clicked on an American TV series, my heart returned to normal in an instant, and I felt peaceful and comfortable. But after I thought about it, it was really terrifying. It was as if something was controlling me.

Master Li (the founder of Falun Dafa) said, 

“I’d like to give you my take on what people normally refer to as “addiction.” In the medical sciences it’s believed that addiction occurs when the part of the nervous system associated with addictive behaviors is stimulated and develops to a sufficient degree. But that’s not it. What’s happening, then? Over time, that addictive substance accumulates, and forms inside of your body an identical version of you that comes to control you. Because it is composed of strong attachment, and has your appearance, it has an equally strong desire to control you; it was formed out of strong desires, after all.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2019 New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XV)

“Spending unnecessary time on the computer or playing video games has the same effect; it’s the same idea. If you want to quit, that thing won’t want you to since it would die. And so it will do all in its power to make you engage in those things. And if you try not to, it will interfere with your work or studies by causing your mind to crave them. If you refuse, it might even make you do those things in your dreams.” (“Fa Teaching at the 2019 New York Fa Conference,” Collected Fa Teachings, Vol. XV)

After that, I experienced karma elimination three times – in May of the year before last, and September and December of last year. Every time, I felt that Master helped me clean up these bad things from the microcosm to the macrocosm. Why three times? It was because not long after the first two karma eliminations, I was moved by the comfort attachment and started watching again. But, the elimination of karma in December made me completely sober. How can a Dafa practitioner keep repeating things like this? Cultivation is not a child’s play. How can I not improve when it comes to such a serious matter?

In addition, the elimination of karma this last time was different from the previous two. Although they were all very uncomfortable, the difference the last time was that a green, sticky and disgusting material flowed out of my eyes. It hurt my eyes. Both of my eyes were red and bloodshot, which looked scary. 

Because these ordinary people's movies and TV shows are expressed in the form of stories, they all contain various ordinary people’s notions, emotions, and desires. In fact, when we watch and accept them, we are also nourishing our thought karma. During the process of eliminating karma, I felt uncomfortable during the first few days, and my willpower was not strong. In two dreams, I entered the world of an online novel I read, which was vivid. If I did not wake up due to stimulation from the karma elimination, I might have fallen into that world. After waking up, I was afraid.

In the process of looking within, I knew that another reason for this karma elimination was that I didn’t cultivate diligently. I was slack and I didn’t practice the five sets of exercises in one breath for a year. During these few days of eliminating karma, I persisted in practicing more diligently, sending forth righteous thoughts, and reading Master’s teaching more. Amazing things happened. When I sent righteous thoughts, I saw a golden palace, just like the opening show of Shen Yun, which was beautiful and special. I was delighted. The next morning, I saw compassionate Master looking at me kindly in a golden atmosphere in my dream. But, before these two days, I often saw ghosts when I sent forth righteous thoughts. 

Writing this experience sharing is also to remind everyone: don’t regard these things as trivial, because they can drag you down and make it difficult for you to improve. Gradually, it weakens your will to be diligent. On the other hand, we can better understand why there are new media projects established. This world is already too filthy, and maybe a small cute video can make you fall into the trap, which was carefully designed by the old forces for you.

The path of cultivation is narrow. Here, I refer to Master’s teaching so as to encourage fellow practitioners.

Master said, “To follow a sacred path requires the ultimate dedication and effort.” (The Ninth Talk, Zhuan Falun)