(Minghui.org) It’s my understanding that every attachment is a lock. Why can’t we get rid of certain attachments despite of all our efforts? It’s because we haven’t really understood the truth behind these attachments.

Master told us,

“The truth is, anything that is not consistent with Dafa or the righteous thoughts of Dafa disciples results from the old forces’ involvement, and that includes all of the unrighteous elements that you have. And that is why I have made sending righteous thoughts one of the three major things that Dafa disciples are to do.” (“On the Responses to the Piece About Assistant Souls”)

I didn’t think about what was behind my attachments during the stage of my personal cultivation. I only knew that I had this or that attachment, and I should eliminate them. However, I didn’t realize who had arranged for Falun Dafa practitioners to have these attachments. It wasn’t until my cultivation during the Fa-rectification period that I realized the old forces’ involvement.

Master has made it clear to us,

“Except for newer students, from July 20 of 1999 on, Master hasn’t created any personal cultivation tests for you, and that’s because overall your personal cultivation has changed in every respect so that it’s in the direction of saving sentient beings and validating Dafa.” (“Teachings Given on Lantern Festival Day, 2003”)

Therefore, aren’t the attachments we have continuously worked on been due to our failure to recognize them?

Master has told us,

“The old forces are in essence gigantic trials and tribulations that accompany you at all times, focused on whether in Fa-rectification Dafa disciples are able to step forward.” (“Be Clearheaded,” The Essentials of Diligent Progress III)

One of my fellow practitioners had always thought he had a strong attachment to fear, and couldn’t eliminate it despite of all his efforts and sending forth righteous thoughts. His fear always came forth at critical moments. One day, it dawned on him that fear wasn’t actually part of him, but he had treated it as part of him. Wasn’t it equivalent of wanting the fear?

Master explained:

“There is a principle in our universe: Nobody will intervene if you want something yourself. As long as it is what you want, nobody will intervene.” (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun)

Whenever fear popped up in the practitioner’s mind, he immediately thought, “It’s not me. It’s the being named fear.” He told the being, “The old forces have arranged for you to interfere with my validation of the Fa. Aren’t they forcing you to commit crimes against the Fa? Master has told us to save all sentient beings, the good and the bad, the positive and the negative. As long as you have the right attitude toward the Fa rectification, you have the opportunity to be saved. I hope you will handle it correctly and stop interfering. You may make the persecutors fearful. It would count as your positive contribution to the Fa rectification.”

Fear disappeared gradually. He became steadfast. Ever since that realization, he has done better and better when it came to validating the Fa, and no longer has the feeling of panic.

I hope this practitioner’s experience will help those who can’t seem to eliminate certain attachments.