Christianity has one God, Jehovah, and only the Bible; Islam has one God, Allah, and only the Quran. The gods of Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, and folk religions have many sutras, confessions, and mantras such as the Buddhist Sutra, the Tao Sutra, and the Sacred Treasure Sutra.
Therefore, as long as local believers often worship gods, almost all have sutras to recite and praise gods, Buddhas, immortals and officials.
The deacon of Yue Lao Hall of Ci De Ci Hui Hall invited a group of Taoist priests to consecrate Yue Lao on 8/15 and the Yin Yun Messenger on 11/30 of the lunar calendar, holding red threads for believers and talking about marriage. Recite the contemporary creation "Tai Shang Lao Jun Shuo Yue Lao Xian Shi Chuan's Marriage Sutra".
Taking a comprehensive look at the entire sutra, "Tai Shang Lao Jun Speaks of the Marriage Sutra of Yue Lao Immortal Master Chun" is the core. Before the sutra, there are "Buxu Yun" and "Hanging" in praise of Yue Lao. Then recite the "Mind Purifying Mantra", "Cleaning Mouth Mantra", "Purifying Body Mantra", "Anti-Earth Mantra", "Purifying Heaven and Earth and Removing Dirty Mantra", "Blessing Incense Mantra", and "Golden Light Blessing Mantra" to complete. Cleanse the Dharma site, calm the mind, purify the mind and body of the chanter, burn incense, and invite gods to protect the body. Then the "Opening Verse" is read aloud before the sutra is officially opened. After this sutra, there are "The Marriage Edict of Master Yue Lao", "The Two Immortal Edicts of Harmony", "The Two Sacred Mantras of Summoning Harmony", "Hui Xianggao", and "Earth Mantra".
The whole scripture has about 4,287 words. "The True Marriage Sutra of Master Taishang Laojun Shuo Yue Lao Xian Shi Zhuan" totals 2,873 words, and the remaining "curses", "verses" and "Bao Gao" total about 1,414 words. From the number of words, we know that the true text is the subject and the rest is the object.
When I deeply understood this scripture, I thought it had the following meanings:
1. Through the teachings of Taishang Laojun
Although this sutra is called "The True Marriage Sutra of Master Yue Lao", it actually invites "Tai Shang Laojun" to give the Dharma; Master Yue Lao plays a supporting role. Its scene is: Taishang Laojun is in the pure heaven, and all the immortals are gathered together. There was a "most true Taoist" who knelt down with his fists clasped and begged the old man to pray for the unmarried men and women in the world and grant them marriage. It kicked off Laojun's interpretation of the Lunar Sutra.
2. Moral decay is the reason why many men resent women.
In Laojun's view, there are so many men and women complaining about them in the world, which is due to their own evil deeds. Because he is not filial at home, he is not jealous when he goes out; he regards black as white, he regards crookedness as straight; he regards honor as humiliation, and he regards humiliation as pride; he does not practice oral ethics and does not practice propriety and justice, so naturally marriages will be troubled one after another.
3. 16 pilgrimage rituals to the great sage seeking marriage
In order to bring together unmarried men and women, Taishang Laojun invites the following: the marriage master Yuelao, the marriage spouse immortal official, the marriage marriage immortal master, the marriage Tianxi Xingjun, the marriage lead boy, and the marriage matchmaker Lord, the Six Star Lords of the South Dipper, the Seven Star Lords of the Big Dipper, the Lord of the Near-Zhengzhao Star, the Lord of the Nine Obsidian Stars of the Upper Palace, the Lord of the Middle Stars of the Twelve Palaces, the Lord of the Yuanchen Star of the Origin, the Lord of the Year, Month, Day, and Time, and the Lord of the Purple Qi, Moon, and Nipples. Lord, Lord of the Star that eliminates disasters and relieves misfortune, Lord of the Star of Longevity that gathers good fortune. The 16th Lord is the Great Sage of marriage and evil. The Taoist priests are devout and dedicated, perform rituals, and pray for good men and women to get married.
4. Do good deeds and respect your virtues, the moon and old age will bring you together, and your spouse will be made in heaven.
"God helps those who help themselves." We rely on divine help but also need human help.
Only good men and women who believe in women, keep themselves clean, love themselves, practice Taoism, promote good deeds, and respect virtues will naturally receive a lot of help from Taoism. If you behave humbly, treat others, and be courteous to gods, you will naturally be supported by noble people and protected by gods. When the red luan star moves, the old moon will pull the strings, and a good match will come naturally, and the couple will be made in heaven.
5. Ask the 23 gods to eliminate disasters and pave the way for a good relationship.
First, 16 immortal gods are invited to eliminate evil spirits in marriage, and then 23 gods are invited to eliminate disasters in the palace and birth chart.
Master Yuelao explains the betrothal palace, Spouse Immortal Official solves the Acacia Palace, Lead Boy solves the Marriage Palace, Marriage Man solves the Marriage Palace, Tianxi Xingjun solves the Spouse Palace, White Tiger Star solves the Birth Palace, Wealth Star solves the Wealth and Silk Palace, The misfortune star will solve the brother palace, the lucky star will solve the field and house palace, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl will solve the male and female palace, the fortune star will solve the slave palace, the marriage star will solve the couple palace, and the blue dragon star will solve the migration palace.
Then ask the Heavenly Doctor Star to explain the Palace of Diseases, the Heavenly Official Star to explain the Palace of Officials and Luxury, the God of Fortune to explain the Fortune Palace, the Treasure Star to explain the Appearance Palace, the natal Star to explain the Palace of Believers, the Five Riches Star to explain the Five Tones and the Palace of Tranquility, and the Peaceful Star to explain Disasters such as drowning in water and burning in fire, noble star and bloody childbirth, and misfortune and misfortune solved by the star of wishing to collect blessings from enemies and creditors.
6. Use the two immortals Yuelao and Hehe to sponsor good men and women
Finally, before the end of the sutra, recite the "Yue Laoxing Jun Bao Gao", "He He Er Immortal Bao Gao", "Zhao He He Er Sacred Mantra" and "Hui Xiang Gao". Praise the good man and the faithful woman for their good marriage, and complete the entire Dharma assembly.
From the Taoist point of view, it is still necessary to invite the "Tai Shang Lao Jun Dao Tian Zun" to preach and perform the scriptures. The "Old Man under the Moon" is just a "little god" in this sutra, similar to the "Two Immortals of Harmony". In the scriptures, they have the same status and similar deities; they are both listed among the 16 gods of marriage and among the 23 gods of eliminating disasters.
It's just that there are more "Baogao" and "Curse" than other star gods and immortal officials, which highlights their relative importance in this scripture.
For me, I gained some knowledge by coming to Yuelao Temple and participating in the holy meeting. It is also recognized that the Chinese people have a demand for the Yue Lao God in folk religion, and naturally there will be scripture creators who create the "Ye Lao Sutra". The group of Taoist priests recited this sutra to consecrate Him and seek good fortune for the believers, and the sutra was passed down accordingly!
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