Why you must not take pictures of the statues when visiting a temple

Usually, monasteries and Taoist temples have “no photography allowed” notices, which prohibit lay believers from taking photos. In fact, this is due to the earliest camera shooting. Regardless of whether the Buddha, Bodhisattva, or God statues are photographed, they need to be washed and dried. Layers may not take good care of them after taking them back. They may be discarded, stained, discarded, damaged, etc. Waiting, can easily lead to the loss of one's own respect, and also make outsiders feel scornful, so the eminent monks and virtuous men of the year set such rules. But now most of them are digital photos, and the photos taken are often put on the screen of a computer or mobile phone for viewing, or spread via WeChat. From another perspective, it also accelerates the spread of Buddhism and Taoism. Therefore, after consulting Master, I suggest you handle it in the following way:

1. Before taking pictures of Buddha statues, silently recite in your mind: "Amitabha, I have offended you!" If it is Taoism, recite silently: " God of Infinite Blessings, I am offended!"

2. When you find that these photos are inappropriate or need to be deleted, silently recite the Buddha's name "Amitabha" or the Taoist name "Amitabha" in your heart every time you delete it. It will be good if you are born with immeasurable blessings.”

——This way we can maintain our respect for Buddha and Shinto.