Question: As Buddhists, do we have to be concerned about ‘offending Tai Sui (Taisui/ 太岁 deity/ deities)’? Is there the need to make offerings for the purpose of appeasement?
Answer: Praying to Tai Sui is not a Buddhist belief or practice; it seems to be Taoism-related? Some say it is astrology of planetary-moon energy, which evolved to be deified, personified into worship of god/s. What we know for sure is that as the Buddha did not teach about it, it cannot be of much significance, even if true. The Buddha called fortune-telling low arts, as the real answer to any problem is Dharma practice. Anyway, even if there is some validity, there is the difficulty of knowing which fortune-telling system or fortune-teller is accurate. Even more tricky is the fact that our karma and thus destiny change dynamically according to what we do, way beyond when we are born.
What the Buddha taught is that for real good fortune, we should practise the Dharma diligently in all aspects of life to better ourselves and create positive karma, which can dilute the effects of negative karma, which is why we have suffering. Merely going through a short prayer ceremony to ‘appease some god/s’ who might otherwise be ‘offended’ to solve the ‘problem’ does not make sense. It is a bizarre idea that there should be a need to pray to some deity/deities who can be repeatedly offended simply by millions of people being born in ‘conflicting’ years and times. This sounds like ‘pettiness’ due to not being ‘bribed’? (This happens to be the direct opposite of all Buddhas and great Bodhisattvas being impartially and unconditionally compassionate to all beings.)
Just because a belief or practice is popular does not guarantee any truth in it. For example, most thought the Earth was flat. Only the Chinese pray to Tai Sui. What happens to the billions of others born on the ‘wrong dates’? Countless have gotten on fine without praying to Tai Sui. This should be sufficient proof that it is not essential to pray to Tai Sui. In the mean time, there has never been solid proof from statistics showing those who do not pray to Tai Sui get into all kinds of trouble. Naturally, those who fear losing out might rationalise that it seems better to pray since there is no harm doing so. Such poor reasoning will lead to adherence to ever-increasing needless rites and rituals, gradually imagining much have been ‘accomplished’ by following them… while neglecting to focus more on genuine Dharma practice that is the true game-changer. Life is too short for misplacing priorities!
For Buddhists, as an over-arcing principle, we take refuge in Triple Gem. We seek the blessings of the fully enlightened Buddhas. We adhere to the perfect Dharma teachings. We learn from the noble Sangha. At no point should there be the need to succumb to fear of real or imaginary gods and ghosts if our spiritual refuge is strong and aligned with our integrity and Dharma practice. The more sincerely we practise the Dharma with right understanding, the more will we realise that the Dharma is already adequate in its own right, with no need for distracting extraneous practices of externalist paths.
Related Article:
Do Buddhas Have Selective Compassion?
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2013/12/do-buddhas-have-selective-compassion
Bro
I have a doubt and please help to clarify ?.
As a devotee, when we pray to Buddha and Bodhisattvas and asked for blessing for Good luck and suffering.Do the praying and asking for blessing really answers or because of cause and condition and impermanence of all natures that bad luck and suffering will not last forever and what is important for our layman to practice and have the right views.
Re: ‘when we pray to Buddha and Bodhisattvas and asked for blessing for Good luck and suffering’
Reply: True Buddhists do not pray for good luck as they understand sincere prayers can help create good karma via purification of the mind. Good karma is not random luck at all, as it doesn’t exist. Everything is based on cause and effect. And true Buddhists do not pray for suffering too.
Re: ‘Do the praying and asking for blessing really answers’
Reply: Yes, if done sincerely.
Re: ‘or because of cause and condition and impermanence of all natures that bad luck and suffering will not last forever’
Reply: As everything is based on cause and effect, even prayers can create new causes to alter effects. Yes, suffering does not last forever, but prayers can expedite its cessation, though best with other relevant practices too.
Re: ‘and what is important for our layman to practice and have the right views.’
Reply: Prayers are very important too because there are often times when even having right views is not enough due to weakened determination in times of crises like severe sickness and dying.
Bro Sthog
Thanks for your advice, Is there any examples,documentary,video or scientifically to prove that prayers can be answered and change the causes.
For meditation, I know it is scientific prove by research houses and practice of eight fold paths and ten virtue really benefits us.
Here are 20 cases of prayers working in many ways, and they are just the tip of the iceberg:
01。念佛可免難。吳允升
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8eGBUJQMBJM
02. 念佛保康寧。周乃勳
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EIgEmMFszZA
03。念佛能解厄。台中阿俊嫂
http://youtube.com/watch?v=CVKyEVAj9Y4
04。念佛蒙接引。李顯貞
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Ouc2LmMe3A
05。念佛得安樂。徐雷
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lluE5G7r-J8
06。佛為大醫王。沈中旭
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PCCp6cmYBoY
07。念佛開智慧。王呆頭。站著往生。靈瑞舍利
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qKLG6IEt6XY
08。念佛救冥苦。張元壽
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ebTo5IWcX90
09。念佛化熱惱。黃打鐵。站著往生。天樂異香
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8Qh_acb5MdY
10。佛為大寶藏。新定少康。口出金佛
http://youtube.com/watch?v=u07QLwbva0E
11。念佛能賣苦。慈溪老婦
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-_XMd3-5EMw
12。佛為大明燈。顧源。坐蓮半月。異香三日
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pp3BJUwJpV0
13。念佛可延年。羅允枚。勝蓮。
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uu4Xht4qZRA
14。佛為甘露雨。雲棲蓮池大師
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QMQsxbC6hDE
15。念佛上蓮臺。慈覺母陳氏
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NvikNk6L_jk
16。念佛放光明。道昂法師
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sAb8sODdTSg
17。念佛結善緣。文彥博。十萬人念佛
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z8wVZIxm4TY
18。念佛決定往生。僧衒。啟芳。圓果
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZbVuoMSGRHM
19。佛為大法王。廬山東林。慧遠大師
http://youtube.com/watch?v=c5Q8Mxap5to
20。念佛蒙開示。法照大師。念佛是諸法之王
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jGEXMJcDszY
Namo Amituofo
Thanks, nianforen
I have watched some of the youtube click and it is very meaningful and inspiring and will continuous to finish all the clicks.
Do you or any brothers have discourses from Buddha or venerable on this topic.
Amituofo.
There are many courses on related discourses. Here is one:
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2013/12/the-faith-factor-strengthening-faith-through-the-treatise-on-ten-doubts-about-pure-land-run-4