Worshiping the God of Wealth and Awakening Wisdom

Today is the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, a day dedicated to welcoming the God of Wealth. The people of Fuzhou have been enjoying their annual deity procession for several days now, and today, the constant barrage of firecrackers makes it feel like the temple of the God of Wealth might just be blown away. It's not just Fuzhou; people across the nation are devoutly participating. From Beijing's Yonghe Temple to Hangzhou's Lingyin Temple, Ningbo's Tiantong Temple, and Fuzhou's Xichan Temple, every place has been packed with worshippers since New Year's Eve.

On New Year's Eve, my cousins were eager to burn the first incense at midnight. My family asked me, "Why don't you want to go?" On the first day of the New Year, my sister-in-law devoutly ate vegetarian food, and my family questioned, "Don't you follow Buddhism? Why are you eating meat so early in the morning?" I had to repeatedly explain: I appreciate and study religion, but I am not a follower; there are no religious rules or doctrines I need to adhere to. Because of my clarity and understanding, I do not burn incense, chant scriptures, eat vegetarian food, or kneel in worship... and I certainly wouldn't choose to add to the congestion at temple gates during this time.

Yesterday, I shared a dialogue in the "Book Club" between Boriska, the Russian Mars boy, and scientists, discussing how 10 million guiding spirits or interstellar seeds from the Milky Way have descended to Earth to help elevate the spirituality of 700 million people... Let's take these numbers as metaphors and the claims as exaggerations, but these individuals are actually equal to everyone else. In other words, the 7 billion people on Earth are all equal; in the three-dimensional world, we are merely skins of various appearances. Buddha said, "All beings are equal," followed by, "All beings possess the wisdom and virtue of Tathagata, but due to delusions and attachments, they cannot realize it." This means everyone inherently has the wisdom of Buddha, but due to external appearances, not everyone can manifest this wisdom.

Furthermore, behind these seemingly equal exteriors lie vastly different souls, which is the true distinction between people: an interesting soul can bring different qualities of life, and an energetic soul can guide more like-minded resonances. These so-called "interstellar seeds" are just one in a thousand of the Earth's population. They are ordinary, but their souls are "advanced," tasked with helping 10% of the human population elevate their soul energy. This "elevation" essentially means awakening our inherent soul "awareness," understanding the operating laws of the universe and human life, cleansing our minds, and experiencing life earnestly without attachments.

When we understand this truth of life, we realize that gods and Buddhas are high-dimensional beings we cannot see (even their names are given by humans), and they also need to follow the operating laws of the universe and human life. We are still equal to them; there is no need to kneel in worship. When you possess awareness, "the mind is Buddha," and you yourself are Buddha! We do not expect to change the majority of the secular world. Many people can only follow the crowd, imitating others and seeking fame, thus moving further away from the "essence." Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will not give you unearned rewards just because you set off loud firecrackers or burn big and long incense sticks; it's merely self-psychological suggestion and comfort. This world always operates according to the laws of heaven. What you seem to be able to ask for is what you inherently deserve; what you cannot ask for is what Buddhas and Bodhisattvas hope you "let go of." So, what real meaning is there in kneeling and worshipping?

However, the power of human thought is astonishingly strong. The Avatamsaka Sutra says, "A single thought can startle the deities of the ten directions." In my book "Born as a Human," I discussed the "Law of Manifestation," detailing this "Law of Attraction." Every day in my past, I have had genuine physical and mental experiences, often filled with joy. A heart inclined towards goodness can attract infinite cosmic energy to help you achieve goodness, truly "finding a path when you encounter a mountain, and a bridge when you meet water," which is incredible. If I understand correctly, there is an invisible force constantly empowering and guiding these interesting souls of humanity. This is the mission of these souls, and it is also an experience that makes their lives more interesting!