Master Xuanhua: Breaking the Color of Superstition

Master Xuanhua: Breaking the Color of Superstition

Worshiping Buddha for faith, worshiping Buddha for praying for world peace, and not for yourself is the behavior of a true Buddhist.

I think Chinese Buddhism has many superstitious colors, and some unreasonable things make people doubt but not believe in Buddhism. These places must be reformed. If they do not make drastic corrections, the future of Buddhism will be unimaginable!

For example, when burning incense in the temple, it is believed that the more incense is burned, the more merits there will be. In fact, this is a wrong concept. Burn incense to the Buddha to express respect. Just put one incense piously, so why bother putting a lot of incense! If you are not sincere, you will not be able to respond no matter how much incense you pour. Buddha does not like fragrance. If Buddha likes fragrance, what is the difference between us ordinary people? This trend must be changed, otherwise it will make people suspect that the Buddha is greedy for fragrance. This unintentionally adds a stain to the Buddha's noble reputation, which is really a sin!

It is natural for ordinary foolish men and women to bow to the Buddha, but they don’t know what it is to worship Buddha? I only know how to pray to the Buddha to protect them from promotion and wealth, peace, men and women, fame and fortune, and everything I ask is a manifestation of selfishness, and there is no idea of ​​benefiting others and the world. Although Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will respond to their requests and will not disappoint sentient beings, but they will be insatiable, which is wrong. I was very touched when I saw this situation, so I should reform the concept of foolish men and women worshiping Buddha, enlighten them to worship Buddha for faith, and pray for world peace. I should pray with righteousness and openness, and not for myself. This is the behavior of a true Buddhist.

If there are unworthy monks, it is of great use to burn paper money, so that the deceased can bribe the prison guards and reduce the punishment. Some people listen to the monks saying that the more money they burn, the better, and believe what the monks said, because they believe that monks do not lie. But there is another secret in this. Monks get benefits in secret, so everyone tacitly understands and colludes with their friends to deceive the parties’ money. How despicable is this method! So I want to reform the bad habit of burning paper money, defeat superstition, and not let Buddhism suffer injustice. Buddhism is not a religion that advocates burning paper money.