Buddhist Offerings Starfruit Myth

The other day, I overheard someone mention that starfruit should not be offered to Kuan Yin (Goddess of Mercy). Out of curiosity, I asked why, and the reply I received was, "Because my elders said so." 

I had never heard of any fruit being forbidden as an offering, but this was the second time I had encountered this belief. This prompted me to share whether starfruit (or any cirton fruits) can indeed be offered to Bodhisattvas or any other divine.

This belief seems to be another old wives' tale passed down through generations. The main reason behind this superstition is that some people claim the starfruit resembles the Buddha’s hand.

Personally, I don’t see any resemblance. However, people started associating this fruit with the Buddha’s hand and began spreading the idea that one should avoid consuming or offering starfruit if they worship Buddha or Kuan Yin.

Others have even associated the fruit with the private parts of higher beings, which I found mentioned in a forum. These associations, however absurd they may seem, have been accepted by some for years, even though the actual reasons are often unclear.

To my readers and friends, I know some of you might find this belief ridiculous, some might laugh at how humans tend to connect unrelated things, and some of you may have unknowingly held onto this superstition for years. Most believers follow a "better safe than sorry" approach without understanding the true reason behind it.

"The truth is, it doesn’t matter if you consume or offer starfruit to the divine. Even if the fruit looked exactly like the Buddha’s face, hand, or any other body part, it wouldn’t mean you are showing disrespect by eating or offering it. It’s simply a fruit, meant for consumption, that has become unnecessarily complicated by various interpretations."

Ultimately, when it comes to offerings, what truly matters is your sincere heart. Even if the entire world believes that it’s disrespectful to offer something as lowly as shit (I'm super exaggerating), if that's the best you can provide and you offer it sincerely, the Buddha will accept it. The divine reads your heart, not your offerings.

Let me clarify: I’m not encouraging anyone to offer shit, as I’m sure most of you can provide something better if you have access to the internet to read this post. What I’m trying to convey is that offerings should reflect sincerity. You could offer gold bars or an elaborate vegetarian meal, but if your prayers stem from greed or malicious intent—like wishing harm upon your boss so you can benefit from it—if I were the Buddha, I’d bless the sincere, kind-hearted person instead.

It's time to cast aside baseless superstitions and focus on cultivating genuine devotion and compassion.