What attitude should we take toward haunted-house exploration, immersive acting, and the unseen world?

My attitude toward the unseen world is respect: as far as possible, the living and the unseen should not disturb each other. We should not deliberately disturb or provoke them and then blame everything on the unseen when something happens. I often describe this balance as respecting ghosts and deities while keeping an appropriate distance. If you do not understand, do not treat them lightly or assume that some spiritual training makes you stronger than them. Even Fu Mo practitioners who handle such matters need caution and reverence.

I once seriously considered whether, as Fu Mo practitioners, we should make programs exploring haunted houses and ruins. When we consulted the deities, however, the answer was no. I later understood: if they have not disturbed anyone, why should we disturb them to make a video and then treat them as something to deal with? That was our faith-based judgment at the time. It does not mean every ruin certainly contains ghosts or everyone who explores one will have an accident.

We also discussed collaboration with friends who film explorations of ruins, but ultimately returned our attention to our programs and knowledge of spiritual practice. I did not conclude that everyone documenting paranormal matters is doing something meaningless; it may be their work and choice. For Sheng Zhen Men, however, disturbing others without a need and then asking deities to confront them after being frightened is not what we want to do.

We also need to examine our intentions. If we truly want to help, would we still do it without filming or showing anyone? I acknowledge that recording our Podcast also includes a wish for more people to know Sheng Zhen Men and to be seen. Yet sharing cases and knowledge we have actually encountered differs in motivation from deliberately experimenting on unseen beings for a video. Films and entertainment have their production methods, and publicity is not always wrong. But we should not set respect aside and deliberately create incidents for fame or profit.

Video also has limits. I have used bubble tea as an example: even the best camera can make it look beautiful, but an image alone cannot establish that it tastes good. Likewise, when watching a paranormal video, understand what the footage can explain and what remains unknown to you. Watching it does not mean you understand everything.

We discussed a story about an actor who became deeply immersed in a possessed character and was later told by a friend that an unseen presence was following. That was a retold story, not an experience I personally handled or confirmed. The same respect applies at cemeteries and columbaria: do not criticize the deceased’s photographs, appearance, or life. My story about a young woman’s grave was a legend I had heard. The point was to respect the deceased and their resting places, not that every passerby will experience the same thing.

When we went to an Indigenous sacred mountain for a religious ritual, we expressed respect and explained our purpose in the local way before entering. That was an experience of following local customs there, not a requirement to use identical offerings or rituals everywhere. Willingness to respect a place differs from carrying one procedure around and applying it universally.

On one occasion, I discussed news of a paranormal influencer who died in a traffic accident. I had only watched clips in the news, not all her material, and had neither specifically sensed the situation nor consulted the deities. I was discussing possible interpretations, not establishing the cause of death. We cannot say that an accident was certainly a Bodhisattva’s punishment or a curse because she had thrown a Guanyin statue. It saddened me to see continued speculation about why she died after she was gone.

My reminder is this: you may disbelieve or offer different views, but do not deliberately damage remains or kick graves to test for ghosts and attract views. In my understanding of faith, provocation may worsen one’s condition or create harmful entanglements with the unseen. That does not mean this has been established as the cause of every accident. Even if you disagree with someone’s religion, you can retain respect without treating your safety as a joke. If your life is gone, what can views and money do?

I also met a client who rode a motorcycle at night on a sparsely populated mountain road and later had an accident. While discussing cold yin conditions and the unseen, I also reminded the client that riding hurriedly is itself risky. We cannot attribute every traffic accident to a ghost. The road, time, and riding behavior all need consideration. Do not focus only on what can be filmed or how many views it may earn while forgetting what you are doing.

If you already feel you have disturbed someone, knowing when to leave also shows restraint. Feeling unwelcome does not require you to prove that you are stronger or ask deities to confront them. When I speak of divine protection, I also ask why we actively brought matters to that point. Examine your conduct first, so faith does not simply become backing for bravado.

Respect does not mean help is impossible. If you sincerely wish to help, start with people in the visible world. If you do not yet understand the unseen, you can participate in religious ceremonies and assist with recitation rather than go alone to a cemetery and attempt things you do not know how to do. Sheng Zhen Men handles unseen matters when clients encounter problems and seek our help. We do not deliberately create problems and then attract people by solving them.

Dungeons, mazes, haunted houses at amusement facilities, and cinemas that remain dark with people coming and going need not all be regarded as equally serious. From my energy perspective, the condition of a place and people’s fear and emotions affect their experience. Amusement parks are generally places for enjoyment, which differs in degree from scenes deliberately creating intense fear. People’s states at the time also differ, so effects may vary. Distinguish the circumstances rather than assigning every kind of entertainment the same risk.

I once visited a film-themed haunted-house exhibition with my daughter Qian Qian and fellow practitioners. It was entertainment performed by staff, a different situation from deliberately provoking the unseen in ruins. Our group of nine had a joyful time. Although I knew the figures were actors, sudden movements sometimes startled me. I was immersed in the story and did not specifically sense whether deities were present. I cannot turn an enjoyable experience into a claim that deities certainly accompanied us in person.

We also discussed how focusing on a mantra, companions, and the task at hand can reduce the fear of constantly waiting to be startled. Everyone’s condition differs, however. I still advised avoiding these activities for the time being if your fortunes have recently been low or your body and mind unsettled. Our laughing our way through that visit does not mean everyone else should be unafraid.