Deities and Faith
How can remote ritual participants understand what actually took place?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
In Sheng Zhen Men’s approach then, individuals joined their rituals through video when convenient. If video participation was impossible, photographs were sent. Letting people know what was done forms part of the trust we value.
Early photographs likewise helped people absent from the site understand proceedings. Photographing, organizing, uploading, and explaining take time, but I feel religious service must answer to oneself and one’s conscience before Heaven and Earth.
Large ceremonies differ from individual rituals. With limited staffing then, continuous video was not always convenient. A camera fixed in one position also shows a limited angle, unlike being present. We therefore kept photographs and sometimes video to organize and share afterwards.
This explains how we informed participants, not a standard judging every group by livestream availability. Individual rituals, large ceremonies, staffing, and modes of participation differ and need clear explanation.