The clasped hands

(Baonghean) - In the first days of the year, it is not surprising to see a large number of people flocking to temples, pagodas, and shrines. Praying for peace, health, fame, fortune, children, etc., almost everyone who comes to these sacred places brings their own wishes. There are also people who simply come to enjoy the spring scenery, immersing themselves in the bustling spring festival atmosphere.

Many temples and pagodas are overloaded at the beginning of the year (Photo: Internet)

Discussing the topic of going to church at the beginning of the year is always a long and… sensitive story, because it “touches” the issue of belief, faith, and saints and gods representing supernatural powers that transcend the mundane world in which we live. Religion and belief are always difficult questions that even science has not yet been able to explain or determine. That is why, when arguing about right and wrong, more or less in this field, people are often hesitant and find it difficult to reach a consensus.

When I go to temples and pagodas, I usually just burn incense and pray, because I believe that respect is in the heart, not necessarily high trays and full offerings to express the desire and turn to the gods and Buddhas. There are also people who take great care to prepare offerings to offer, to pray for peace and to ward off bad luck every spring - that is the way for them to find peace in their souls, a "spiritual stick" to help them overcome difficulties in life. It also depends on each person's point of view.

However, recently, we have begun to hear many comments and distinctions about the way we express our beliefs and faith, comparing them with an unwritten standard that society considers civilized, harmonizing both spiritual values ​​and scientific nature.

People perform a ritual to ward off bad luck at Hoang Muoi temple.

At temples, pagodas, and shrines, there are signs posted asking visitors to only burn incense in incense burners instead of spreading it around at the base of trees or even in the corner of a column or yard. Each person should not burn too much incense to avoid the situation of billowing smoke, which is both polluting and inconvenient for later visitors. Phenomena that show signs of exploiting the divine for personal gain, such as fortune telling and spirit mediumship, have been criticized by the media and "hard-handedly" dealt with by managers.

On social networks in recent days, there has been a lot of sharing of an article about Buddhism not teaching and not requiring offerings to ward off bad luck. I think that this is one of the signs that there has been a significant "shift" in the community's awareness of spirituality and beliefs. Instead of blindly following a crowd of people bowing their heads and praying, with incense smoke billowing, and sometimes people do not even know who, what, or what they are praying to, we have learned to ask questions about the origin and cause of rituals and spiritual concepts. From there, we can find a way to express our faith and respect in the most appropriate and sincere way.

That is the return to the original source of spirituality and belief, because after all, those are the "spiritual sticks" that guide people to find a peaceful and gentle path. Have we ever wondered what we are bowing our heads and clasping our hands before, what good values ​​does that statue up there represent for us to strive towards? Or are we simply clasping our hands before an inanimate, senseless block of metal, and then we ourselves become senseless and senseless without realizing it?

Hai Trieu