Spiritual Cultivation and Movement
What is a precious proclamation about, and how can reciting it draw us closer to a deity?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
A precious proclamation introduces a deity’s origins, virtues and vows. It is more than reciting the deity’s name once. As we read, we can gradually understand why this deity deserves respect, what they wish to help living beings accomplish and what we ourselves can learn from them.
This is somewhat like a Buddhist hymn of praise. It expresses reverence while helping people understand the vows and virtues of Buddhas and deities. If we know only a title but do not understand why the deity is worth learning from, there is still more for us to learn.
From the perspective of Daoism and spiritual cultivation, reciting a precious proclamation is also one way to draw close to a deity and become attuned to them. When introducing the Golden Mother of the Jade Pool, I encouraged everyone to understand and recite her proclamation and experience it for themselves. However, being able to draw closer to a deity in this way does not mean that reciting it enables us to carry out every kind of work on her behalf.
When introducing the Water Official, I also hoped that people participating in the ceremony would recite the proclamation themselves. First learning about his origins, virtues and vows, and then praying with that understanding, gives us more knowledge and confidence than merely knowing a name. I hope that people learn and participate during a ceremony, rather than simply pay a sum of money.
Of course, it is better if people can recite and participate themselves. If children register their parents and their parents find recitation difficult, the children can recite on their behalf and dedicate the merit to them. Even when the person concerned does not recite personally, we will still help with the recitation. We will not exclude someone for that reason.
These texts can also help us assess the beliefs we encounter. Look at how a hymn of praise or precious proclamation describes a deity’s virtues, love for living beings and vows. Then compare those qualities with the words and actions before you. Someone’s claim to have spiritual perceptions does not mean that everything they say must be correct. We still need to understand the principles. Simply remembering a divine title does not remove the need for judgment.