Hi friend,
I believe you have been misguided by many superstitious and wrong
information from folk religious believers about Buddhism.
In Buddhism, Dharma materials such as Buddhist books, sutras, dvds,
tapes are all propagation materials which contians the teachings of
the Buddha-Dharma and all these are respected because the Dharma
(Teachings of Buddhism) is vital for the continuation and
spread of Buddhism.
There is no such belief according to Buddhism that putting Buddhist
materials at home or in room will cause disharmony among family
members. Infact, sutras are normally honoured on the Altar of
family as a symbolic expression of the Dharma teachings of the
Buddha or Buddhist books are kept in clean shelves for the the
family to read and understand the teachings of the Buddha. Esp, if
you have children at home, the more you should expose your children
to proper Buddhist books and materials and raise him/ her up with
Buddhist values and identity. Buddhist scriptures are also
encourged to be placed in homes so that anyone in the family will
have the practise of reciting and recollecting the teachings of the
Buddha through reciting it and importantly building the family on
the Buddha as a source of faith.
Furthermore, according to Buddhism, we don't have "xiao ren", this
is obviously a chinese folk religious belief which has nothing got
to do with Buddhism and thus this methodlogy should not be applied
on Buddhism, the Buddha taught us to express loving compassion
towards all sentient beings because all beings are future Buddhas
to be, not a single sentient being is being condemned by the Buddha
as "xiao ren" , this untruthful hearsays about without using /
reading sutras books will cause xiaoren is absolutely untrue and
not in accord with Buddhist beliefs.
Infact I encourage you and your family to constantly read proper
Buddhist books and sutras and build your family with Buddhist faith
and guiding principles, this will help you and your family create
happiness and love through faith bonding.
If there have been unhappiness btw you and your spouse in
these two years, first both of you should sit down and talk and
solve the problem, if not? seek a family counseller for proper
guidance and also start to build your family with proper Buddhist
Faith and values by attending Dharma talks and praying together as
a family. (Buddhist temples not the taoist ones) support each other
with prayers, love and concern. This is whenby the Buddha will
bestow his blessings upon family whom practises the Dharma in the
rightful manner.
Yes, you can donate the books and materials to Buddhist temples
free distribution corner if you do not want them anymore, this is
not because you need to "deposit your bad luck" at a temple but to
let the next person whom want to read the Buddhist book a chance to
get it, in modern words, this is called "resource sharing". BUT
remember, Buddhist sutras, books, tapes, vcds DO NOT causes
disharmony among family, this is a grave misrepresentation by
uninformed folk believers of some chinese traditonal
religions.
May you and your family prosper and grow in love under the Buddha's
blessings.
Namo @mituofo
With metta,
Goh