(Minghui.org) I previously had a strong attachment to sentimentality, and stumbled over it for a long time. Master gave me a hint and helped me to eliminate this attachment.
My husband is very talented, but is from a poor family. My father was against our marriage. Other family members and friends couldn't understand why I would marry someone from a lower class, but I insisted. My husband eventually became successful in his career, but he had an affair and asked me to let him go so that he could pursue his happiness. I was completely devastated, thinking of his heartlessness, and making me raise three young children by myself. I absolutely hated him for returning my love with ingratitude.
I could barely concentrate when I studied the Fa or did the exercises. I felt that I was being dragged down. I even did many things I shouldn't have done as a cultivating practitioner. Thank you Master, for not giving up on me!
I was led back to my path of cultivation in 2010. I also drew great strength from fellow practitioners, who shared their righteous thoughts and actions with articles on the Minghui website. I was deeply touched and determined to return to my mission of Fa-rectification. I gradually let go of the attachment to my husband's affair.
My family life seemed to improve as I gained deeper understanding of the Falun Dafa teachings. My husband used to ignore our children, but he later began showing more caring and responsibility. He took the initiative to take them to school and pick them up. He even showed support and helped me with my truth clarification activities. It felt like my happy life was back.
A phone call from my mother shattered the illusion. She found out from a casual conversation that the woman my husband had the affair with required my husband to show a great sense of responsibility. Otherwise, she wouldn't continue her relationship with him. That was the reason for his change–and I was bursting with rage. His good behavior turned out to be tricks to please this woman.
Master said,
“But normally when a problem arises, if it does not irritate a person psychologically, it does not count or is useless and cannot make him or her improve.” (from Zhuan Falun)
I was furious, and no longer wanted to see him. My mother tried to change me and persuade me to let it go. I replied loudly, “Yes, I know! Master told us to thank those who take advantage of us!” At that moment, Master unlocked my memory. The true reason for these events suddenly came to my mind. Before my husband and I came to this world, the old forces only allowed one of us to become a Falun Dafa practitioner. My husband gave me this precious opportunity and promised to play the role of compelling me to make progress in my cultivation and eliminate my sentimentality at critical moments. It suddenly dawned on me that his decision was selfless. What Master told us was so true. What we see in this world is often the opposite of reality.
Master taught us,
“So, regardless of the setting or circumstances in which you run into problems, you must maintain a compassionate and merciful heart in handling everything. If you cannot love your enemy, then you cannot reach Consummation.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Fa Conference in Australia”)
“You should transcend ordinary people. Can a god treat human beings as his enemies? A human being who is transcending everyday people cannot treat them as his enemies. So, I tell you that you cannot Consummate if you do not love your enemies.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Canada”)
“The other day I said something to you all: I said that if you can’t love your enemy then you can’t become a Buddha.” (“Teaching the Fa at the Conference in Houston”)
With Master's hint, I gained a clear understanding. Everyone's role in this play has been carefully arranged. We meet people who play positive roles as well as those playing negative roles. They give us all kinds of tests, yet we wouldn't be able to eliminate our attachments without them.
As Master said,
“Whatever you experience during your cultivation—whether good or bad—is good, for it comes about only because you are cultivating. A cultivator cannot achieve Consummation when laden with human thoughts, laden with karmic debts, or laden with attachments.” (“To the Chicago Fa Conference”)
After this difficult test, I learned to view things in a positive way, and realized that the things we see in this world may turn out to be the opposite of reality. I have since been treating those playing negative roles with compassion.
