And finding their deities incapable of preventing or even punishing this profanation of their shrines, they conceived a low opinion of their power compared to their own village rulers.

• 人们看到，自己一度如此崇拜的神灵，竟然无力阻止和惩罚这种渎亵行为，因而断定菩萨的神威还不及村干部的凡力。