Title: Paying Respect to Dao De Tian Zun
Description: "Dao Zu aka Lao Zi"
javewu - March 21, 2008 06:43 AM (GMT)
15 Day of Lunar 2 Month, a day for the Taoist to celebrate the Reborn of Lao Zi and also, the Manifestation Annivesary of Dao De Tian Zun.
In Taoism, this is an Important Day for the Taoists to pay their sincere & faithful respect to Dao De Tian Zun or Lao Zi, one of the San Qing aka Three Supreme One.
Dao De Tian Zun, same as Yuan Shi Tian Zun, is one of the Three manifestations of Yuan Shi Tian Wang aka the Initial Gust of Miracle Energy or Force before the Universe & Dimensions existed. After Yuan Shi Tian Wang reaches a certain stage of manifestation, he manifested the very first Manifestation Energy to create Yuan Shi Tian Zun, followed by Manifesting Ling Bao Tian Zun and last, Dao De Tian Zun.
Upon being manifested, Dao De Tian Zun started to perform his task by making his different forms of manifestation in different Eras to do salvation for the Mortals & Beings and also, to impart his Spiritual Teachings to the Cultivated Taoists, such as Heavenly Master Zhang Dao Ling, etc.
So on this Day, what shall one self prepared?
For a Taoist, the things that needed to be prepared are very simple.
Just prepared the Taoist Five Offerings or the most, the Ten Offerings, once ready, place them on the Altar that set-up facing the Heaven (with an Urn, 2 Candles and some simple paper-offerings).
After setting up, one self can start the honouring to Dao De Tian Zun.
Sincerely make a short report Dao De Tian Zun who you are, what is the event today and after the report, make 3 times of kneeling down, each time of the kneeling down, make 3 kowtows (which make 9 kowtows after the whole honouring).
Once the kneeling & kowtow are done, stand-up and make a simple bow and then leave the spot.
Besides doing the honouring, this is a Day that the Taoists will do chanting & reciting or perform Taoist Rituals/Ceremonies. On this Day, all chanting & reciting of Scriptures & Mantras, the credits & merits will be enhanced & multiplied.
For normal Chinese who wished to pay respect to Dao De Tian Zun, this will be encouraged. Just prepare the items that one self usually prepared for honouring the Home Deities. After preparation, place the items on the Main Altar or if one self wish to set up a Temp Altar facing the Heaven, this will be best.
Follow the procedure that being mentioned above.
If at home, one self is not able to do the honouring, can visit Temples that dedicate Altar to Dao De Tian Jun or Tai Shang Lao Jun.
In Singapore, one self can visit Havelock Road Yu Huang Dian, Telok Blangah Tian Gong Temple, Amoy Street Xian Zu Temple, Wang Hai Da Bo Gong Temple or any Celebration Venue to make your respect.
So when can remove the Altar?
For those who wish to set-up the Altar till the next day, this is encouraged, if not, can remove the Altar on the very day, after the whole family pay respect to Dao De Tian Zun.
After removing the Altar, do not discard the Five or Ten offerings, one self can transfer the offerings to the Main Altar to continue offered to the Main Deities.
Chinese Character at: http://javewu.multiply.com/reviews/item/143
'dao2'