用香拜拜，為什麼可以上達天聽？ Why can we contact Gods with incense?

中國人對香，有一份很特別的情感與記憶。古人在幾千年前就已使用香來祭祀天地，祈求平安；經過了漫漶歲月的遷流，人們依舊以焚香祝禱的方式，祈求上天庇佑事業騰達、家庭圓滿、身體健康。用香禮拜神明，讓心願可以上達天聽，其背後的秘密是什麼？

Chinese have a special feeling and memory about incense. Ancient Chinese started to worship Gods, heaven, and mother earth several thousand years ago in order to pray for peace. As time goes by, people still burn incense to pray to Gods for great business, good family relationships, and health. But, why can we contact Gods with incense and make our wishes heard?

 

古人製香的態度十分嚴謹，會選擇良辰吉日，挑選優良藥材，加上正確的製香心態，這些元素符合了「天時、地利、人和」三者兼具的祥瑞之氣，製造出來的香便具有高等的正向能量。當人們聞到如此極致、優美的香氣時，腦波自然會逐漸放慢，情緒也趨於舒緩沉靜。當下就會照見身心從緊張、恐懼、焦躁、不安的暴戾之氣，昇華為安詳、篤定與恬靜。

Ancient people took a strict attitude towards manufacturing incense. Normally, they picked a great timing and chose materials of good quality. Additionally, they had the right mindset while producing incense. Hence, the incense manufactured in such condition was of high and positive energy. As people smell such delightful fragrance from the incense, their brainwaves naturally slow down and their moods become calm. For those who suffer from tension, fear, agitation, or anxiety, their moods can turn peaceful, calm, and composed.

 

手持清香，透過一縷清淨祥和，開啟謙卑、禮敬、無我的意識狀態，更容易與高層意識〈如神、上帝、佛、菩薩〉連結，感受到心誠則靈、圓滿心願、有求必應的神秘靈驗。這種「天人合一」的愛力也會擴展至家中，讓家裡充滿平和幸福。

With incense in hand, we can humbly contact higher consciousness, such as Gods, Buddha and so on. If we sincerely and respectfully try to contact the higher consciousness and pray, we may have our wishes come true. Such an act can also help us expand our power of love and thus our home can be peaceful and blissful.

宋朝黃庭堅在「香之十德」中，指出香可以「感格鬼神」。香是人們心靈的寄託，當香霧騰騰而上，讓心意可以上達天聽，即便面臨生命難以承受的巨慟，一切，在那當下便有了安頓。

In the Song Dynasty, Huang-Tin-Jian mentioned ten advantages of burning incense. He pointed out that incense served as a means to contact Gods and spirits. Incense can actually be a source of support for our spiritual life. As the fragrant smoke soars up, our hearts can be heard. Even when we encounter the unbearable matters in life, with incense aside, we can see light at the end of the tunnel.