The Ninth Month Celebration (農曆九月齋典)

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A Year had passed, it’s the Ninth Month Celebration again, so this Year, have you prepared yourself for the Celebration, if you have yet to do so, do not worry, just be natural and I’m sure, you will also get the necessary blessing as what the other will get, cos Dao is Nature & Simple – Dao Fa Zi Ran (道法自然).

Same as last year, before the actual Day of the Celebration started, a lot of our Local Folks Temples had been preparing themselves for the 9 Days celebration, such as going on Don’t-know What Purpose Fasting (齋其形而非清其心), doing Invitation of the Spirits from the Seas and last, having long term Non-Taoist Chanting during this Period. Like what the Overseas Researchers & Taoists like to say, you all in Singapore, really have very Unique type of Celebration for the Ninth Month.

Today, while going thru some of the Photos online, I’m totally surprise to see Folks wearing the Mourning Apparel to do the Invitation for the Nine Emperors. As immediately, all my Hairs ALL over the Body stand up, a Cold Wind attack me and nearly faint on the spot. Maybe this is cause by my weak and un-healthy physical body or maybe, too disappointed on the things that I had seen. But never mind, this is what the other people like to say, this add on the Unique of Singapore’s very own Taoism Culture, I must agree.

Coming to this Era and Modern Society, without a Good Leading Religious Master or Teacher, an Old & Traditional Religion couldn’t move on or I can say, dying off. Without someone who is Intelligent & Wise to do the correction on such misleading Culture, a Nice & Colorful Religion will be totally destroy and gone with the Wind in no time. This is how sad ignorant can do to our Root Culture.

I must said that I’m lucky to have a chance to learn the Upright Culture from the Various Elders, Priests and Masters that I had met locally and overseas, at least they are daring & straight-forward in pointing the faults that I have and or the local Religious Groups had made. By losing a minute of Face & Pride will bring in a Long Term Satisfaction and Great Achievement that oneself can get.

So I will like to advise on all people who are going to join in any Celebration in this Ninth Month, be more Wise and Clean-in-mind, in order for oneself to learn and see the Upright Culture of our Beautiful Taoism.

Okay, back to topic.

On the 9th Day of Lunar 9 Month, do remember to visit an Upright Temple that dedicate Altars to Dou Mu Yuan Jun (斗母元君) & Jiu Huang Xing Jun (九皇星君/九皇大帝) aka Jiu Huang Da Di (The Nine Stars from the Northern Hemisphere, not the Pirates, Princes of Ming Dynasty or Bandits). If you cant find any, just visit any Tee Kong Temples (天公廟) that are near by, I’m sure you can see statues dedicated to Bei Dou Xing Jun (北斗星君), just pay respect to Bei Dou Xing Jun, it will be the same as paying respect to All Nine Stars and also Dou Mu Yuan Jun.

If you can, do prepare some simple Offerings, such as Flowers, Tea-leaves, Five Oranges and a Set of Good Incenses. As for Incense-paper, you can go with or without it, cos Jiu Huang Xing Jun & Dou Mu Yuan Jun do not need that.

Simply do a quick report on who you are and where you come from, ask for simple Request and ask for Blessing for your Home Country, I’m sure you will get more Blessings that those who make request for Wealth and Money.

For some people, they will go on Vegetarian Diet before going to pay respect to Jiu Huang Xing Jun or Dou Mu Yuan Jun, if you are used to that, you can just carry on with that, if not, no need to worry much, as long as you are sincere and at normal time, you didn’t do any things that harm people, I’m sure you are more Pure and Clean then to some of them who take a 49 Days Fasting Period.

Just keep this in Mind.

Pureness comes from your Keen & Sincere Heart and not from Physical Actions that lead to Nothing.
(清者。唯真唯正而至無為。清心而后淨形。言真行正。無戒亦能成道。)

Sincerity comes from your Selfless & Open-minded Soul and not from Verbal Saying that announce to the Whole World.
(誠者。知私忘私而心曠無疑。肉眼雖視而心眼千里。無貴有近親。身貧萬人敬)

Blessing comes from Simple & Non-Greedy Mind and not from Craving that gather Luxuries.
(福降其身。其人必是無貪。喜隨其人。其祖三代惟善。)

Once oneself can perform the “Diet” on Mind, Soul & Heart, you are better than any Vegetarian-goers.

Last of All, All the Best and Happy Ninth Month.