家庭神位的契機The Right Opportunity For A Home Altar
在一般人的理念中，認為祇有把佛菩薩或諸神明的金身擺上神桌上才叫神位。不是這樣的，妳你若沒佛菩薩金身，但妳你卻有佛菩薩的唐卡或法像卡，妳你將之擺上神桌上，就已算是神位了。又或者，妳你非常思念妳你死去的爸爸、媽媽、老公或老婆，妳你找木匠刻之，然後擺神桌，日夜點香祝禱，也算是神位哦！不過吾想，應該很少很少人會如此做才是。哈！哈！哈！
什麼是神位？為何要有神位？應該有神位否？該不該在家中設立神位，這是因人而異的。但是吾本人會建議，所有家庭不妨設立神位。理由在於神位深密的內涵，是可利益大至國家，小至家庭及個人的。家家有本難唸的經，若安神位能使家家難唸的經容易唸，那又何樂而不為。
設立神位，當然不可馬虎。當中要兼顧的，包括當事人的本命合方、投緣的佛菩薩或諸神明、靜氣相宜之位、佛菩薩及諸神明金身的選購，等等。最後部份就是莊嚴及禮義周全地為佛菩薩或諸神明金身開光點眼。還未經開光點眼的佛菩薩及諸神明金身，大多實屬木偶，但經有證量的上師、法師、居士或行者，召請宇宙高靈入神於佛像金身，這尊佛像金身就是活靈活現的佛菩薩了，必然佛光注照，有求必應。
有些可愛無知的人們，擔心害怕招待不周於佛菩薩或諸神明。其實啊！給理由也給些高級點的嘛！妳你若真把佛菩薩，或諸神明當活的，又怎會招待不周呢？
The general concept that most people have is as long as they put a statue of a Buddha or Bodhisattva on an altar table, it is considered done. It is not the case. Even if you did not place any statue but instead put a picture or Thangka (Tibetan Buddhist painting on cotton, or silk appliqué, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, scene, or mandala.), it is considered an altar too. Or if you miss your loved ones who have passed on, for example your parents or spouse, you might get a wood sculptor to carve out their statues and start worshiping them day and night. That is considered an altar too. But I doubt any of you would do that. Ha ha ha!
What is an altar? Why do you need an altar? Should you set up an altar at home? This depends on the individual. However I suggest that all families to consider setting up an altar at home. The hidden significance of an altar can bring benefits to an individual, a family and on a bigger scale, to the whole nation too. Every family has its own story to tell and its own challenges to tackle. If setting up an altar can help you cope better with these challenges, why not?
One should not be slipshod when it comes to setting up an altar. Important things to consider include the favourable directions of the owner based on the birth chart, the Buddha or Bodhisattva whom the owner has affinity with, a location in the residence where the energy is stable and undisturbed, the selection process of the statues, etc. The final piece of the jigsaw would be the dignified consecration ceremony that is in accordance with the rites. A Buddha statue that is not consecrated is mostly just a statue. But once it is consecrated by an accomplished Vajra master, monk, nun or layman Buddhist practitioner who invokes the Higher Beings from the Universe into the statues, the statue will come to life with the emanation of the deity in it and with the Light of Buddha present, your wishes will be granted.
Some people are ignorant to a point where I find them delightful. They worry and fear that they are unable to take care of their altar proper. Come on! Please think of a better reason than that! If you really treat the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as living beings, why would you not attend to Them well?
