Brief Translation into English by Lotuschef
Source: 行天宮的靈應 文／聖尊蓮生活佛盧勝彥
Xing Tian Gong's Spiritual Response / written by GM Lu
蓮生活佛盧勝彥文集第245冊《古里古怪集》
From GM's Book 245 <Funny and unique compilation>
有一次。
與師母、陳嘉萍、盧輝[鳳皇]等，到台北一家餐廳，吃午餐。
路經「行天宮」恩主公廟，隨緣進入參拜一下。一入廟，看見香火鼎盛，香客如雲。
大殿內有法會，僧尼誦經。
大殿外有許多穿著藍袍的居士，手上持香，給香客收驚、收煞，人潮洶湧，供品一桌又一桌。
The story unfolds when GM was in Taipei one day and on his way to a restaurant for lunch.
This temple named Xing Tian Gong or Moving Sky Palace is on the way and GM decided to enter to pay respect. Upon entering, GM noticed that there is abundance of burn incense and offerer of incense are like clouds movements.
In the great hall, monks and nuns are chanting sutras.
Outside the great hall, there are followers in blue robes holding lighted incense performing services of helping visitors to collect and dispel fear, bad omen; human traffic is rapid and swift, offerings filled table after tables.
我說：I said:
「我想進入大殿參拜關聖帝君。」
I would like to enter the great hall to pay respect to Guan Sheng Di Jun - Emperor Guan or Saintly Emperor Guan.
但，我看到一塊招牌，上書：
However, I saw a tablet with these written:
「香客止步」。
「香客止步」。
Incense clients halt step.
我手持香，在大殿外，遙向關聖帝君參拜，口中祝曰：
「聖帝千秋萬歲，香火不斷，度生如天。」
說完由偏門走了出來。
I held the lighted incense outside the great hall and pay my respect from afar to Saintly Emperor Guan, mouthing greetings:
說完由偏門走了出來。
I held the lighted incense outside the great hall and pay my respect from afar to Saintly Emperor Guan, mouthing greetings:
Saintly emperor thousands autumns ten thousands years old, incense fire non stop, passes living or life like Sky/Heaven.
After saying these, I walked out from the side doors.
沒有想到——
關聖帝君從後趕至追我。
沒有想到——
關聖帝君從後趕至追我。
Unfathomably, Saintly Emperor Guan came chasing from behind.
帝君手持「青龍刀」把我的後腳跟，劃了一下，我後腳立刻像扭到一樣，走起路一跛又一跛的。
帝君說：
「止、止、止。」
He was holding [green dragon sabre] which he used to scratch behind my leg, and my leg instantly starts to move as if twisted, limping.
我轉頭問：
「帝君何事找我，又如何劃我一腳？」
I turned around and asked:
Emperor looks for me for what matter, and why scratch my leg?
帝君說：
「見你來朝，頂透三光，若不來見，禮尚有失。」
Emperor said:
Seeing you visit temple, crown revealing 3 lights, if do not come and meet you, shows lack of manners.
我說：
「何劃我一刀？」
I said: Why scratch me once with sabre?
帝君答：
「吾是想告訴你，行止宜當心，勿落怨敵口誅筆伐。」
Emperor said:
I am telling you to be cautious in your movements, not to fall into enemies with grievances' speech and written attacks.
我說：
「多謝示警！」
I said: Thank you for the warning!
帝君與我拜別。
我到餐館，兩隻腳才能正常走路。
We parted ways and when I reached the restaurant, both my legs able to walk normally.
後來——
我聽說，行天宮，廢去用香拜拜，只用手合掌，供品也不用了。(太多香，影響環保；供品，聖賢亦不食)
Later, I heard that this temple abolished the use of incense to pray, only using hands and palms together, Offering also don't need already.
(Too much incense, affects environmental protection; Offerings. Saints won't eat.)
人問我：
「這樣行嗎？」
People asked me: Will this do?
我如此回答：
依傳統來說：
香是信香，有傳達之意。
供品是禮，有虔敬之意。
I answered like these:
As per traditions:
Incense is Belief"s Fragrance, have communicating meaning.
Offering is mannerism, have sincere and respectful meaning.
一般人行之久矣！突然間改變，人們會沒有辦法去適應。
然而，習慣也會成自然！
Most people practice too long only! Sudden changes, many hard to get accustomed.
However, Habits can become natural or nature!
又，我們密教修供養法：
火供——護摩供品甚多，以火燒供品及香。
水供——供品亦多。
煙供——解怨親債主之怨心。
又，我們密教修供養法：
火供——護摩供品甚多，以火燒供品及香。
水供——供品亦多。
煙供——解怨親債主之怨心。
Moreover, in Tantrayana we have many Offering Practices:
Fire offering - Homa's offering much, using fire to burn offering and incense.
Water offering - offering not much
Smoke offering - to dissolve Karmic foes' grievances.
(儀軌繁多，有香有供) Sadhanas are many and have incense and offering.
以人間之禮儀敬佛、菩薩、金剛、護法、空行、諸天。祈禱本尊降臨。
As per Sentient realm's mannerism of paying respect to Buddhas, Boddhisattvas, Vajras, Dharmapalas, Dakinis, all Heavenly beings. Invoking Yidam to descend.
但，到了至高境界也能：
However, at the summit stage or level, can also:
以天為壇城。(無佛像)
With Sky or heaven as Mandala. (No Buddha Statue0
以心香召請。(無信香)
With Heart's Incense to invoke. (No belief's fragrance or incense)
以心供最上。(無實物供)
With Heart offering utmost. (no need for actual material offering)
我且問：
「以至高的境界，是不是一般的凡夫俗子，能意會得？」
I then asked:
Already attained the highest level, is it any common mortals can perceive or arrived at?
詩：Poem:
無無無又無 None None None and None
空空空又空 Void Void Void and Void
證得平等性 Affirmed Nature of Equality
有無都是風 Have or None, all is Wind
~~~~~~~~~~~
Hahaha!
There are simple and basic fundamental keys and also keys to great secrets of Maha Perfection here.
Go find them. :)
Cheers all.
Om Guru Lian Sheng Siddhi Hom
