Everyday Life
Why might Master first address problems with the altar table before enshrining a deity?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Enshrining a deity involves not only the ritual moment but caring for the place of worship. Once, taking fellow practitioners to help a client, I found damaged wood on the altar table. We repaired and painted it before proceeding with enshrinement.
We had come for enshrinement but also repaired the table. In our faith understanding, once we saw an issue affecting the whole arrangement, we could not pretend not to know and merely finish the planned ritual. Handling matters completely meant considering the visible work needed too.
This example shows that ritual and practical surroundings need not be unrelated. Repairing visible damage before enshrinement was what we considered more appropriate on that occasion.