(Clearwisdom.net) I was a person who was always afraid of sharing my personal understanding. On one hand, I felt that I didn't have anything much to say. On the other hand, it was also because of my fear.

This was until an experience sharing conference where I heard a fellow practitioner mention having many attachments such as jealousy, competitiveness, showing off, seeking fame and self-interest and so on. I was shocked when I heard this. I always thought that these were shameful things, especially jealousy. So how could one even dare to talk about them? It really shook me.

Later I thought about it: Why do I feel that these things are shameful? There are all kinds of attachments during cultivation, aren't there? It is quite normal, so why do I not dare to speak about them? Isn't it an attachment of fear; fear of losing face and reputation? If today an everyday person feels sick, he may tell others that he has headache, or foot ache or some part of the body that is not comfortable. Then why can't we treat these attachments similarly? Only when we can face it calmly, can it be quickly eliminated.

My understanding is that being able to talk about one's attachments openly is a process of eliminating fear. After they are exposed, I feel that our notions are weakened. Sometimes while talking about them, one realizes one's more deeply hidden attachments as well.

August 3, 2006