Spiritual Cultivation and Movement
Does “burning an unseen being” during a service mean using fire on the person seeking help?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
No. ‘Burning an unseen being’ describes a religious approach to an unseen presence. It does not mean burning the person’s body with fire or striking them with a ritual implement. A person seeking help is already suffering. We must not add physical injury.
Dao Xuan shared that, when Master Ji Gong addressed karmic creditors or spirit interference, he repeatedly urged the unseen being to leave willingly. Sometimes the persuasion included a stronger warning, such as saying fire would be used if the being still refused. However, Dao Xuan also said that on that occasion the being was not actually burned to ashes, and no force was used on the client sitting before them.
In our services, whenever discussion, communication or coordination is possible, we try to talk things through. When hearing words such as ‘burn’ or ‘expel’ in a ritual, distinguish communication with the unseen being from anything actually being done to a person’s body. Religious expressions cannot be used as a reason for violence.