(Clearwisdom.net) I've wanted to share my cultivation experience about demonic interference, but I kept postponing it. Tonight, after reading articles posted on the Minghui website (Chinese version of Clearwisdom), I immediately wrote the first draft. I experienced interference as soon as I began to type my article on the computer. I kept making mistakes, but I chose to ignore it. I was determined to write the sharing article. Once my mind was set on it, everything became smooth.
Previously, when I read “Demonic Interference From One’s Own Mind” in Zhuan Falun, I always thought that Master was referring to other practitioners, and that it had nothing to do with me. I did not think that it could happen to me. I was afraid of having demonic interference from my own mind, because there could be serious consequences that could ruin a practitioner. The example that Master mentioned was about a practitioner whose Celestial Eye was opened and who thought very highly of himself. My Celestial Eye is closed and I cannot see things in other dimensions, so I was certain that I would not have demonic interference from my own mind. I often reminded myself to treat the Fa as teacher and not think of myself as being extraordinary.
I've been cultivating for more than ten years and did not look inward deeply enough in this regard before. Master's lectures are targeted toward all of our attachments, and no practitioner is an exception. When I noticed attachments stemming from the demonic interference from my own mind, I was shocked. I decided to find them, no matter how deeply they were buried, and eliminate them. I'd like to share the following experience with everyone.
Signs of “Demonic Interference From My Own Mind” when I saw my articles published
I had submitted many sharing articles to the Minghui website, which were subsequently published. I considered it a great honor to have practitioners from around the world read my articles. I found this satisfying and I felt proud. In May 2007, an article I wrote was published on the Minghui website and later in Minghui Weekly. What an honor! I thought maybe Minghui Radio would broadcast my article, too. During that month, I searched weekly for my article on Minghui Radio and finally found it. I could not wait to listen to the recording, but I was not able to open it. I remember seeing my article in the table of contents and it was listed right at the beginning. Though I was able to play other broadcasts, I could not play that one.
At the time, I thought it was because I was too attached to my article being broadcast. I did not realize that I had the attachment of wanting to show off, self-satisfaction, and self-importance. Those were signs of “demonic interference from one's own mind.” I was just like the example Master gave in Zhuan Falun of the practitioner who thought he was an unusual person. The only difference was, we had different attachments. Was I trying to satisfy my attachments to showing off and zealotry by submitting sharing articles and seeing them published?
Master said,
“The desire to show off plus the attachment of zealotry are most easily exploited by the demonic part of your mind.” (“Definitive Conclusion” in Essentials for Further Advancement)
I wanted my articles to be published. Once they were published, I was very happy and wanted to show off. Upon examination, I found this very frightening. On the path of cultivation, we cannot count on being lucky, as we must cultivate ourselves solidly. After I realized this, I was no longer concerned if my articles were published. If they were, then I downloaded them. I looked inward and read the original draft to see if I had any attachments. After reading the articles edited by the Minghui editors, I treated them as a reminder of my cultivation, and not something to use to show off.
Other cultivation issues that manifested “Demonic Interference From One's Own Mind”
I have always been proud and felt fortunate to be a Fa-rectification Dafa disciple. I felt I was nobler than non-practitioners. At work, I detested those who struggled, competed, or used unscrupulous means to obtain profit. I treated money, fame, and making a fortune as dirt, and pitied those who tried hard to obtain them. I did not consider myself a Dafa practitioner who came with the mission of saving sentient beings. I regarded people who were stuck in fame and profit with disdain.
When I noticed my unkind heart, I spent more time studying the Fa to rectify myself. I recognized that behind my thoughts of being more noble than others, there were attachments to fame, vanity, and egotism. Master and Dafa offer salvation to all sentient beings. I'm just fortunate to have obtained Dafa at an earlier time, but there is nothing to brag about. A cultivator should eliminate all human attachments. Only when we do what Master requires of us, do we reach the standard. Only when we truly cultivate ourselves well, do we have something to be proud of. But by then, it won't be something we would seek. If we do not cultivate ourselves well, then everything else would be done in vain.
Sometimes as a Dafa disciple, I felt that I was the only hope for the sentient beings in this corner of the world, and this gave me a faint sense of pride. When I read Master's recent lecture, “Watch Out for Breeding Demons in One’s Own Mind,” I felt that it was referring to me.
Master said,
“Don’t let your human attachments become overly inflated and get out of hand just because you’ve done something or other.” (“Watch Out for Breeding Demons in One’s Own Mind”)
I realized I had thoughts like that and felt very ashamed. If I did not cultivate well, I would not be able to save myself, let alone others. Wasn't I breeding demons in my own mind?
When I made Shen Yun Performing Arts DVDs or printed Dafa books, Master's overseas lectures, Minghui Weekly Magazine, Minghui Weekly Newspaper, truth clarification materials, and Minghui calendar for other practitioners, I felt that everything I did was being recorded in the cosmos. I thought sentient beings and the gods were envious of what I was doing, and I was very pleased. Those thoughts filled my heart, and sometimes I could not get rid of them when I studied the Fa. I realized that it was due to my attachments, and I should not let them interfere with my cultivation.
When I look back at my cultivation path, I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for Master's compassionate protection and enlightenment. This year, I will cultivate myself well, purify my dimension, do the three things well, follow Master's Fa-rectification, and truly help Master in saving sentient beings.
These are my current understandings. Please kindly point out anything inappropriate.
Category: Improving Oneself
