How did Master confirm the connection when first inviting a statue of Daode Tianzun?

On that occasion, I first saw a statue of Daode Tianzun in a religious supplies shop and felt a strong connection. I then used the Chinese chess divination cards I carried with me to seek confirmation. I visited that shop often, and the owner knew that we used the cards. After choosing the statue, I drew a card there for him to see.

When I turned the card over, it faced the owner, so I had not yet seen it myself. He saw the black General card, which bore the name Daode Tianzun. Earlier, when inviting Thousand-Armed Guanyin, I had also drawn the red General card that corresponded to the Bodhisattva at the time. On both occasions, I happened to draw the corresponding card. Looking back, I found this truly remarkable, and it strengthened my belief in these connections.

Before the Daode Tianzun statue had been delivered, I went to worship at Songshan Cihui Temple. A fellow female practitioner I knew suddenly asked whether I had received Daozu and said that I could do more after doing so. I was surprised because I had not told her that I had already viewed a statue and was preparing to invite it back. These connected events became part of my connection with Daozu.

This was also a process in which I gradually moved from my original thinking toward trust. First came a feeling, then confirmation through the cards, and later that practitioner’s remarks. My confidence grew step by step. This was my own experience at the time. It does not mean that everyone who draws cards when inviting a statue will necessarily receive the same result.

When recalling this connection later, I also spoke about the Daoist study camp at Sanqing Temple. I knew about the activity from its first edition, but I was busy working to establish myself then and felt it was not yet suitable for me to attend. I finally took part in the first session of its eleventh edition. I originally thought that during the four days and three nights I could also do some practice, but the course schedule was actually very full. After that experience, however, I felt closer to Daozu.

There were practical considerations when choosing the statue too. Our space was small and our finances limited at the time, so I did not invite all three statues of the Three Pure Ones at once. Instead, I chose Daode Tianzun, with whom I felt a connection. These practical conditions also matter when inviting a deity statue. Having more statues or spending more money does not necessarily mean a stronger connection.