PureInsight | October 1, 2002
1. On the Attachment of Sentimentality
Sentimentality helps to stabilize all the bad beings and substances that have fallen from the universe down to the Three Realms, which include the human world. In other words, sentimentality can be considered as a principle that governs the Three Realms. Trapped in the maze of the Three Realms, all beings are ignorant to the truth of the universe and feel what is around them is the way that it is supposed to be. All beings are able to enjoy their life while being saturated with sentimentality. However, it is from sentimentality that countless human notions and attachments are derived. Humans will not and cannot eliminate these notions and sentiments, which become things that those people who can never go back to their original true selves can rely on and live by. Sentimentality makes one happy when one obtains what one desires, and makes one depressed when one loses what one doesn’t want to lose. Accompanied by pleasure and pain, humans continue to go through cycles of birth, aging, illness, and death, in countless reincarnations where we keep on creating karma and repaying karma in retributions.
Sentimentality drives people to be selfish and self-centered in every thought. During the Fa-rectification cultivation, if we judge good from bad, and right from wrong using human sentiments, we will be unable to see things clearly. Only after we continue to eliminate our attachments of sentimentality will we be more clear-minded and rational in our Fa-rectification cultivation.
2. On the Attachment of Pursuit
Within the Three Realms, “existence” is a heavy burden, while “non-existence” sets one free, and blesses one with wisdom. While sentimentality drives people to become increasingly self-centered and selfish, this attitude inevitably leads to pursuit. For instance, one does not become content after acquiring something, as one always pursues more. A mind in pursuit is a substance. Pursuit is also a most obstinate notion and conventional kind of thinking that is virtually impossible to detect in oneself. Everyday people always do things in pursuit of something.
A mindset of pursuit nourishes human notions and attachments. It also interferes with our cultivation in the human realm. It leads us to drag our feet in our journey to return to our true selves. It is a rope, tied around us, that stops us from advancing to higher realms. It is the Fa, or principles, of Falun Dafa that enables us to understand and detect the truth of the universe at higher levels. It teaches us to eliminate our attachment of pursuit with righteous thoughts. It teaches us a principle that one will naturally gain what belongs to oneself without pursuit. The elimination of the attachment of pursuit makes our journey to our true selves become infinitely relaxing, serene, and carefree.
Translated from:
http://www.zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2002/9/8/18442.html
