How to Pray /Worshipping/Donation or Not / Teach the young to connect with divine.
How to Pray /Worshipping/Donation or Not / Teach the young to connect with divine.
Do Good Deeds, Speak Kind Words Everyday. Be Filial.
✨ Allow the young to connect to the divine and be guided in life. During an emergency, the holy ones (they are light) could show up and protect them too.
The author has no children, but she has a dog. 🐕 After months of bringing her dog to volunteer at temples, she noticed its behaviour became much better—and after she spent many long hours volunteering at a Guan Gong temple, her dog became even more loyal to her. Coincidentally, Guan Gong is famous for loyalty and righteousness! 😂🙏 one deity descended even could not kept his eyes off her dog, is like her dog had a special aura.She jokingly wondered: perhaps her “son” had collected blessings from so many temples that the deities had left their little “blessing stamps” on him—like temple-to-temple greetings! 😂🙏
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The deities, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are not divided by religions -they are compassionate, universe wisdom. They embrace people who come from, or even go to, other religions too — as long as you practise **goodness and selflessness. ❤️ **
🌿 Note: Different temples may practise differently. This is just a general guideline.
A simple way:
Gods are holy light and many have their own altars. They may also be out of the temple doing heavenly work. ✨
So, respectfully address each god by name, then introduce yourself:
👤 Your name
🌙 Your lunar age
🐲 Your Chinese zodiac sign
🏠 Where you are staying
For example:
“Dear ___ God, my name is ___. I am ___ years old according to the lunar calendar, born in the year of ___. I am currently staying at ___. I respectfully greet you here.”
If you have nothing to ask for and are simply here to visit them, the author suggests:
“I wish for peace, more kindness and more goodness education in this world. May your temple also prosper with good people helping you.” 🌏❤️
A sincere heart and respectful attitude .
The oldest form of praying are Joss sticks and candles. 🕯️🙏
You can also offer your own lunch or dinner to the gods first before bringing it back. 🍚
🌱 Note: It is better to offer no meat. Gods are merciful, and we should avoid causing suffering to living animals whenever possible. 🐾❤️
You can ask for one "YES" - divination block — one side up and one side down — before you collect it back.
Some people also follow the practice of waiting until one joss stick has burned to at least half before asking to bring the food back. It can be seen as giving some time for the prayer. 🙏
It is a good practice to open up the food package when offering food to the gods. 🍱
But the fear of creatures crawling into the food is real too! 😆🐜
So the author will plead with the gods:
“ May I please, after I light joss sticks at all the altars, I can come back and close the food with a lid please.” 🙏
Or just leave it there expose and eat it later if you are one of the bold ones. :) 😂
Traditionally, joss papers are said to become “money” for the gods.
But gods don't need money. ✨Sometimes, they are the ones who give us wealth and help. 💰🙏
But remember — don't expect gods to simply give you money because you ask.
If you have been a good and filial person and are genuinely in need, for example during an emergency, pray to them for money help. 🙏
No god would give money to a bad mouth, or potty-mouth attacker so that he or she can go to more places and spread negativity. 😅 Please change these behaviors.
And if you will become greedy, dependent and keep coming back to ask for more, gods may not help you either.
After all, you are supposed to walk your own path. 🚶♀️🌿
In the gods' eyes, if failing can make you stronger, more resilient in life and wiser, then you may be allowed to fail.
Fail, get up, become stronger, and create your own meaningful life on Earth. 💪🌏❤️
It is now 2026, and people are starting to have different ways of looking at joss papers.
1. 💌 For gods
An aunt once told her niece that joss papers are like love letters to the gods — a way to thank them, send them love and appreciation. ❤️🙏
They both had such a happy day burning joss papers and declaring their love for the Jade Emperor while burning them.
That was so fun and enjoyable! 😂❤️ (MORE joss papers pls!)
2. 👵👴 For deceased loved ones
Some people believe joss papers become “blessings” for their ancestors, and in turn, the ancestors can bless their descendants. 🙏❤️ Well, I (author) have seen cases of angry ancestors coming back to blame the families for being ungrateful and or stop blessing the generations and health/career/children issues do arise.
3. 🌱 Perhaps the meaning can change in the future
The key is love and intention. ❤️
When you buy something for gods or your ancestors, think:
What would they like? 🤔
Or simply buy something that you yourself would be happy to give them as a respectful treat. 🎁
Don't buy stale longevity buns pls. 😅
Don't buy something that you yourself would not want to eat or receive.
Treat others the way you want to be treated. ❤️
Respect and good intentions matter. 🙏
The gods will love you for having such good thoughts. ✨
The author once burned a box of joss paper to thank Da Bo Gong (大伯公), God of Virtue and Blessing.
But while burning it, she noticed that the gift box was designed to ask the god for more favours and more money. 💰
She suddenly felt apologetic and no longer buys them.
Instead, she bought traditional small bottles of alcohol he likes and paired them with the latest Korean soju. 🍶
The traditional bottle was a form of respect.
The latest soju was like saying:
“Perhaps you would like to try this one too, is the trend now.” 😊
It feels more like giving something with love, rather than simply asking for more. ❤️
Gods take care of us, we love them back too.
Donating to a temple is up to you.
Personally, the author will make a point to see how the temple spends its worshippers' money. 👀
Ask yourself:
🧹 Do they really use the money to keep the temple clean?
🙏 Are the gods' altars well maintained?
❤️ Do they make meaningful donations?
🤝 Are they active in charity work?
📢 Can you see their donations on their website or notice board?
🏗️ Is the money used properly for building and structural maintenance?
🙏 Is money spent meaningfully to care for the gods and Buddhas?
❤️ Is charity work actually helping to relieve suffering?
Giving money is easy. How the money is used is also important. If they don't use their worshippers money well, then donate to other charities instead. or Remember to be generous to your own parents too.
Permanent staff are a must.
There is a lot of work to do in a temple, just like in any company. 🏃♀️Volunteers come and go and have to make their livelihood too.
Staff should also be paid according to the market rate because they have their own families to support. 👨👩👧👦
After all, gods, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas would want everyone — including the people working for them — to live a good and decent life too. Not being shortchanged just because you work for gods but you should not be greedy after merits too- to work in temple, one must have a heart (being a bridge) to want many others to connect to gods and live a peaceful virtuous life please. ❤️ May there be world peace and love for every sentient beings and no more sufferings. Be kind to animals and more.
The highest management should have a reasonable cap on their pay and benefits.
They should not be in a position where they can receive huge bonuses worth millions. 💰
A temple is not a commercial company. 🙏
The highest management should also show humility and a desire to serve mankind. 🌿
When leaders are humble, it motivates everyone else to serve with a better heart. ❤️
🌿Religions and holy books are very powerful - it can be used to create war and disharmony, killings, obsession, OR in the right hands, can create a peaceful, loving society that reduces or eliminate sufferings for all sentient beings, teaches the youth to become good people. 🌿
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Failure can mean success in life.
In the gods' eyes, if failing can make you stronger, more resilient in life and wiser and kinder (because you learn empathy),
then you may be allowed to fail. Fail, get up, learn, become stronger, become kinder become firm and brave, and create your own meaningful life on Earth.
Kindness is not weakness, you can be kind , use kind words to stand up for justice for yourself and others, set your boundaries, be safe and do not allow hurt or harm from others. If the other party gets mean, then use law to deal with them if needed. or stay away from toxic people. Pray for help and guidance.