Everyday Life
Are statues or religious objects brought from abroad necessarily bad?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Not necessarily. I have discussed clients collecting cultural objects from different places. Local people may recognize their own beliefs and histories in them. Our unfamiliarity cannot make an entire culture evil.
Before bringing something home, understand what it is, its original purpose, and whether you accept it. Religious backgrounds differ from familiar ones. In my energy perspective, the source, image, and feelings in living with the object all need consideration.
If seeing it feels uncomfortable, chilling, or frightening, I suggest distance first. There is no need to keep it nearby to prove fearlessness. Yet one person's discomfort cannot determine the whole faith of a place.
Discussing a ghost-master statue, I first acknowledged not being an expert on the complete local tradition. Recognizing uncertainty means not rushing to contact or worship. Do not collect everything simply from attraction to mystery, or assume one glance reveals its entire history.