Deities and Faith
Does growing up in a family that worships deities mean I understand spiritual practice?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
No. Family worship can be a beginning in encountering faith, but what relatives believe and how much you understand are separate matters. Saying “My family worships Mazu” does not mean you already understand spiritual practice, deities, or the unseen world.
My mother worshipped Guanyin Bodhisattva when I was little, but of course I understood less then than I do now. My later understanding came from seriously following the path of practice, learning the teachings, experiencing divine virtues, and learning to face problems and overcome difficulties through life’s sweetness and bitterness. Family faith does not remove the learning you need to undertake yourself.
It is like a mother being a university professor: her child does not automatically possess the same knowledge. We can respect someone’s religious background, while recognizing that personal understanding still requires learning, thought, and experience. When listening to someone discuss practice, examine their teachings and reasons. Do not assume everything is right merely because of the deity their family worships.