【玳瑚師父佛學論】 《供奉神明的真諦》
The True Significance of Deity Worship (English version below)
還沒「正式」為師父之前，吾曾「背包游走四方」，以佛法及玄學，與廣大眾生結緣，也藉此機會，為廣大眾生排憂解難，謀取福利。當時所處理的事件，可分為幾個單元，而在這篇文章所呈獻的，是有關家中供奉神明，的真實義及重要性。願諸位大德觀讀之後，能有正確的理念，千萬不要從俗而供奉，最後卻把神明「拋棄」、送進儲藏室......，有了惡性循環，才去東拜西拜、南求北求、到處尋訪能人異士，那真是"運好"。若碰到「千方百計」的騙子，那可就悲哉慘哉。
有人將供奉已久的神明丟入垃圾槽，妻子與孩子健康、事業、婚姻等都出現問題，自己則心臟出問題。有人將供奉經年的神明「送走」，工作時從高架跌下，除了骨折、生意也沒了、兒子犯法，才去寺廟求神拜佛。有人婚姻出現問題，卻把菩薩金身關進儲藏室。這些人的愚，實在難以置信。因為這些人當中，有些是有認識師父的。就算沒有，也不可因個人的問題，任意地將佛菩薩、諸神明之金身，胡亂處理啊！一失足成千古恨，百千萬劫障礙現，又何必呢？
供奉神明一定要請有德有證量的師父開光。開了光的佛菩薩、諸神明金身，就是活靈活現的佛菩薩、諸神明，不但可保家也可衛國。每日虔心點香上供，唸佛持咒，頂禮禱告，出入平安、上班或做生意皆如意、身心安泰、子女乖巧、學業進步、家和興旺是一定的。
供奉神明更是讓我們以祂們為榜樣，學習祂們的德、學習祂們的捨、學習祂們的定、學習祂們的智慧，等等等。這樣的供奉神明，最終所得一定福德圓滿。
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Before I became a Master, I used to 'roam the world' with my backpack. Armed with knowledge of the Dharma and Chinese metaphysics, I would sow seeds of affinity with all whom I met, and duly help those in difficulty and seek merits on their behalves. Those multitudes of problems I have handled at that time fall under a few categories. This article aims to illustrate one particular common problem and its true significance: Deity worship and enshrinement.
I hope all my virtuous readers will realise the true meaning behind this activity, and not to just blindly follow the crowd. And worse still, to discard the deity statues in the end or shove them into the storeroom, never to see the light of day. This negligence will result in negative karma. This vicious cycle of negativity would send most people in a flurry seeking blessings from temples all around and from spiritual practitioners. That is 'good' luck indeed! Should you bump into a fraud who swindle you of your possessions, that would be truly disastrous.
There was this person who thrashed his deity statue and his action subsequently affected the health of his wife and children, and their respective careers and marriages. The person himself then suffered from heart problems. There was another person who sent away his deity statue after worshiping it for many years. He suffered a painful fall at work and broke his bones. His business collapsed and his son got into trouble with the law. All these drove him to seek divine help at the temples. Some people have marital problems yet they chose to keep their deity statues away in the storeroom. Their ignorance is unbelievable. Some of these people know Masters who can guide them if they ask. But even if you do not know any, please do not willfully mishandle the statues of the deities. One missed step could result in a lifetime of regrets. Is it worth it?
The consecration of the deity statues must definitely be conducted by a virtuous master, one who has achieved a certain level of attainment. The statues of the deities become energised with the presence of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and deities after the consecration ritual, and not only do the deities protect our homes, they protect our country as well. With utmost faith and sincerity each day as we make incense offerings, chanting of mantras as well as daily prayers, our lives will be blessed in various ways like personal safety, prosperity of careers and businesses, good health, obedient children, academic progress and harmony in the family.
The worship and enshrinement of gods and deities is to enable us to learn from their exemplary attributes, to model ourselves after their highest virtues, their willingness to give, their meditative calmness, their wisdom etc. By doing so, we will surely achieve virtuous merits and bliss at the end.
