Spiritual Cultivation and Movement
Why might divination not clearly identify my spiritual patron despite my eagerness?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Wanting very much to know does not mean the answer can be established clearly right now. Sometimes, even after divination and seeking guidance from deities, the answer remains unclear. In such cases, I leave the matter open. I will not force an answer by naming a deity simply because the person is anxious to know.
A friend who was very interested in spiritual practice once felt that they could sense many deities and wanted to know who their spiritual patron was. However, the emphasis in that reading was “quiet and stillness”; the indications concerning other deities were not clear. I suggested receiving purification and doing more scripture recitation first, allowing themselves to settle down, and returning to the question after some time. This was advice for that particular case. It does not mean that everyone who cannot obtain an answer must follow the same approach.
Learning about your spiritual patron is meant to help you understand your direction in spiritual practice, not to prove in a hurry that you are special. With your own experiences, learning, and feelings, you can come to a clearer understanding when discussing this relationship. Even if it is still unclear now, you can work on what is in front of you. Lacking a name does not mean you cannot begin anything at all.