Gentlemen Don't Teacher their Children 2 of 2 - Gods in the Ordinary Temples are Delegated

(English subtitles) Lectured by Daoist teacher Rui-Lie Lee (李瑞烈, 1921-2015) originally, and narrated by his disciple Ah-Ze Zong Huang 鍾黃阿智.
Subtitles:
The teacher said that most of the gods in the temple are delegated. The Buddha is in the Infinite Heaven. The Buddha people are worshiping is delegated god. The Buddha is in the Infinite Heaven. That is the delegated buddha. He received the edict and came.
We don't know whether the delegated god is good or wicked. So I dare not bow to them. I used to pray. Please bless me with better business. Those are the delegated gods and buddhas. The real ones are not in the temple. Now I dare not pray, I bowed and left.
He remembers, my son told me this. Her elder brother usually goes to every temple to worship on the first day of the new year. Now he told me he doesn't worship anymore.
Grandpa said: Not know if it's the righteous god, evil god, or devil god. It is useless I worship them. If you never listen to the teacher's lecture, you might think if we enshrine Buddha, it's the Buddha. If we enshrine Confucius, it's Confucius. If we enshrine supreme celestial, it's supreme celestial.
Frankly, none of them are. Supreme celestials are leisurely and carefree in the Infinite Heaven. How could they stay in the temple? But I also said: When there is something crucial, he'll descend and write words via the psychic. Advise people to cultivate.
If that is an ordinary temple, gods and buddhas are not there but in the Infinite Heaven. How could they live in the human world? That is impossible, so we have to know this reason.
The teacher said that we should work hard to study the truth. The more you learn, the more you are scared. If you don't know, you are not scared. If you know a little, you'll be a little scared. Therefore, we should encourage each other. We are really fortunate to hear the truth from our teacher and patriarch. Most people can't hear the truth.
2:00
While listening, we do what he says. The teacher said no need to force yourself just practice according to your own situation. If you have good fortune, then do more. If you are capable, do more, otherwise, it's okay.
Just like Yan Hui (a student of Confucius), ate a bowl of rice and drank a spoonful of water. He also had great achievement. It's not only the rich will have achievement, the poor can also have achievement.
May I ask: What should I do if I don't go to worship specifically, but just pass by a temple? No need to go in specially. Seeing it, just pay respects, like to the lord of the land. Then we know that the god in the temple is not god himself. That is the delegated god. All are agents.
For example, you have not achieved fruition and lack of merit. Assign you to be the Mother of Delivery. For a male, Just take an example, You go to Buddhist temples to be the Buddha. It's not the god himself in the temple. It's the delegated. Then we clearly know. It's unnecessary for us to go to temples to worship.
The teacher said: At home, you must enshrine the god well. You must set the place well where you worship god. The next is the temple in the village. If you are available, clean your altar at home. If you have money, take care of the temple in your hometown without going abroad or any place. Our gods are blessing us.
For example, our delegated patriarch bless our entire home. He has to bless us first then bless others.
4:00
The same meaning as that we have to take care of our parents first. When we are able, we take care of others. You don't care about the god of your own village. Instead, you take care of the gods of other villages. The gods of other villages will not bless us first but will bless their own villages first. This is what the teacher said.
This is true. You don't take care of your parents but take care of others. Does this work? It doesn't work. So truth comes from public justice. Let's write down the highlights. If we are going to talk to others, we must note it down.
Once, there was a sister said. Why do you keep writing? I have no choice because I have to lecture. If I don't prepare material, what will I talk about on stage? There is advantage to preach, you will be more diligent. Without preaching, you can practice virtue and do merit.
Sister asked should we go to worship when we pass by temples?
On seeing it, just pay homage to it. We should not pray, absolutely not pray. If you pray to a righteous god, but you don't behave, he will not bless you.
However, if you pray to an evil god, it can be disastrous. If you pray to an evil god, he gives you blessing too, but you have to pay the price, like a rascal. Devil gods are like rascals. Sometimes rascals help people too. But must reward him with gift to show your gratitude. But the righteous god won't be like that. It doesn't matter even if you don't worship him.