We have cleaned and re-arranged the family shrine (坛 – Tan) or “Altar” (spiritual platform) – that is the wooden device situated in a corner of our flat – which serves as a door-way between the material (seen) world and the unseen (immaterial) world. It is the place that serves to remember the “Way” (道 – Dao) – or the underlying (natural) pattern of reality in both essence and manifestation. Most Chinese families possess one of these devices as Confucianism has always emphasised spiritual practice within the family setting. The Confucian scholars borrowed this idea from the Change Classic (易經 – Yi Jing) – which is much older. Interestingly, although Daoism and Buddhism does have a monastic component which advocates leaving the family – the Confucian aspect does permit this monastic practice to be carried-out within the family home (this interfaces with the teachings of the Altar Sutra and the Vimalakirti Sutra). Although isolatory training can be helpful – in reality – whatever is achieved in isolation, it must be applied within ordinary life. This explains why many Chinese Buddhists are allowed to wear monastic robes within the family home – this is a distinct aspect of Chinese (Mahayana) Buddhism. Even as ex-monastic often earns the write to retain their monastic name and attire within the lay community.
Even if no member of a Chinese family has not trained in a formal spiritual order – incense will be regularly lit, and fresh flowers and fruit will be added every so many days. Of course, some shrines are kept-up at a greater degree than others – but this does not matter in the end. A family shrine is a door-way between one plane and another. It is a two-way structure that permits a solemn respect to traverse from the material realm into the immaterial realm – and allows a positive spiritual reality to emanate from the immaterial plane to the material realm. Today, I talked to my deceased father – and I did this via a photograph that my mother took and printed-out for me probably around 2010. The photograph was taken in the front garden of our old home at 2 Torbay Road, Torquay Road, Torquay, Devon (the shyster landlord took over a hundred thousand pounds in rent between 2002-2018 before applying a no-fault eviction because we requested a repair be made – one “Robert Fletcher – rcfletcher23@hotmail.com” – a tax exile living in Dubai at the time). As this was 16-years ago – my father would have been around 68-years old at the time. I suppose my father was at the peak of his power as an elderly person! Tomorrow we will collectively lit incense. It is the next stage of respectful mourning.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 