(Clearwisdom.net) One day as I was doing the sitting meditation, my mind was racing about over the everyday things I needed to do, particularly in regard to my work. The more I thought about it, the more active my mind became and I couldn't stop thinking. At that time, I was aware of my attachment to doing things, but I still couldn't calm down. After I finished meditating, I asked myself why I was this way.
Firstly, I was attached to fame. If I get things done well, people will praise me and say that I am very capable, kind and reasonable. However, during this period in time, every one we come in contact with has a predestined relationship with us. We should focus on saving sentient beings and find the best method to tell them the truth. I shouldn't be moved by a few good words from everyday people; I should cultivate truthfulness.
Secondly, I was attached to pursuing gains. I thought that if I did things well, I would get benefits. However, Dafa teaches us to consider others first in whatever we do. How could I always think about myself first? Do I really need earthly things that much? A practitioner should follow the course of nature. According to the Fa taught in Lecture Seven of Zhuan Falun, "If something is yours, you will not lose it. If something is not yours, you will not have it even if you fight for it." If I make great efforts to get something that I shouldn't have, I may harm others because it wasn't meant for me in this life. Then I would have done a bad deed. I should treat sentient beings with compassion.
Lastly, I was attached to egotism. I felt people would regard me as talented and knowledgeable if I did things well. This was an attachment that was difficult to discover. Actually, the wisdom and capabilities I display is all from Dafa, so I should not think too highly of my own abilities.
Teacher said,
"A practitioner who has developed gong and reached the state of Unlocking Gong or truly enlightened should not take himself to be someone special. What he has seen are things limited to his own level. His cultivation has reached this level, because his enlightenment ability, xinxing standard, and wisdom have reached this level. With regard to things at higher levels, therefore, he might be in disbelief. Precisely because he does not believe them, he thinks that what he sees is absolute and that there are only these things. That is way off, because this person's level is just here." (Lecture Six, Zhuan Falun, 2000 version)
Therefore, I shouldn't be attached to those insignificant things or I won't be able to improve in cultivation. I should learn to let go of selfishness and pursuit.
