FAITH

Faith is the foundation of all religions. It is essential for those who follow the Way. With faith, the heart remains steadfast; without it, one will eventually falter. Faith strengthens our resolve and fuels our spirit. By embracing the Way with unwavering resolve and fervent spirit, with unwavering belief and conviction, we will undoubtedly fulfill our duties. There is a French proverb that says, “La foi transporte les montagnes,” meaning “Faith can move mountains.”

Faith is like a vessel that holds water, and divine responsiveness is like the water that fills it. A large vessel can hold more water, a small one less, and if the vessel is cracked or broken (losing faith), it can no longer hold water.

One’s faith is shaped by their understanding. Those who grasp the profound mysteries of the Way possess a firm and unwavering faith, as solid as rock, unbreakable and indestructible.

The faith of those with limited knowledge and narrow perspectives is like floating duckweed or drifting clouds, with no firm foundation. A wave of doubt or a gust of criticism can easily shatter it. Such individuals merely imitate others’ beliefs and then quickly abandon their faith when challenged. This fickleness is dangerous, a grave offense against the Supreme Being, and detrimental to the very foundation of the Way we strive to uphold.

Therefore, before placing our faith in anything, we should diligently investigate and analyze it to determine its trustworthiness. Once we recognize the truth, we must nurture our faith to grow stronger each day, so that even amidst hardships and trials, we remain steadfast and unwavering.

Moreover, faith is a matter of personal freedom. As long as we do not violate the laws of the land or society, no one can restrict our freedom of belief.

However, our faith must be guided by righteousness and goodness. We must not blindly believe everything we hear or encounter without discerning truth from falsehood. Such indiscriminate belief is dangerous. Those who cannot distinguish between right and wrong are better off not believing in anything at all.

Superstitious beliefs have long plagued the minds of ordinary people.

Now, with the third opening of the Way of Heaven, divine light illuminates the path, dispelling darkness and falsehood. Superstitious practices like sorcery and spirit mediums will gradually fade away.

In the past, sorcerers specialized in “countering evil” (*1) to cure illnesses caused by malevolent spirits. However, these practices were unorthodox and unreliable. Even today, many deceivers exploit people’s faith for personal gain, claiming to communicate with spirits and deities, but they are merely charlatans.

Regarding spirit mediums, I cannot definitively claim that they are always fraudulent. Sometimes, genuine communication with spirits may occur. However, the truth lies with the medium’s spirit, while deception arises from malevolent entities who impersonate deities and ancestors to deceive people. Those who are gullible and readily believe such claims become deluded, their souls tainted and their spiritual essence tarnished.

Regarding offerings, we light lamps to illuminate and create a solemn atmosphere. We burn incense to purify the surroundings and offer a fragrant aroma. We present offerings as a gesture of respect and sincerity. However, no deity, saint, immortal, or Buddha partakes in worldly possessions.

(*1) “Countering evil” means using evil to fight evil, like using demons to exorcise demons. It’s like thieves catching thieves; they belong to the same group but end up harming each other.