Hmmm ... whether one can or cannot chant certain sutra
in house is rather subjective. In fact, my buddhist peers did
pinpoint to her Shifu that Earth Store Bodhisattvas
promise in his sutra that he will protect the place from
spirits disturbance. However, the problem lie not the
Bodhisattvas promise but the layperson own merits and
vows. Example when a spirit tries to get the layperson
attention through disturbance or sighting to request for help.
The layperson may freak out as he may not be able to discern
the spirit request. That person may in turn blame the
Bodhisattvas for not being able to fufill his promise. However,
have the layperson forgotten since the moment he wanted to recite
this sutra, he has begin on a Earth Store Bodhisattvas journey
to be like him.
Famous vows
1) If I do not go to hell to help them there, who
else will go?
2) if the hell is not yet empty, I vow not to
become a Buddha.
Welll, according to her, it is ok to recite in the temple during
the mass recitation due to the vast triple
gem merits.
On the other hand, I have another friend who really like and
chant Earth Store Bodhisattva Sutra on a regular basis at his
room even when in Australia. Nothing has happened to him. So
it is a matter of individualistic choice. I think proper Buddhist
foundation is the key. Right understanding. Perhaps my buddhist
peer's foundation was not strong therefore her shifu advise in that
manner. As for Dawn and others who has been doing fine in one home,
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK 
.
DEDICATION OF MERITS is skillful means
of sharing of one joyful acts with our loved
ones. in fact, I have this experience with my dead brother.
During his earthly life, he is quite bad temper once he
even used his shoe to throw at our home Buddhist
altar. Last year he passed away in an
accident, our family did a number of merits for him such
as copying Lotus Sutra and placing with his ash; recitation;
writing Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo on paper; offering incense
and offer lamp in the temple.
In Jan this year, I dreamt about him. I went to this place when
half naked people are hangup in pole like manner. They are
suffering being link up like a chain. When the nite fall, they are
queuing to get a portion of the food. Some bowls were empty,
half full or quarterly filled. My brother appear and his bowl was
full. He told me that there was this friend who
will always bring food for him to eat. Subsequently, he
said that from certain days onwards we can prepare
a dizhu -地主神altar in a particular spot in
the kitchen area to make offering to him which we did as per
instructed.
I was very taken back by the dream. After much recollection, I
realised that the so called friend might have been a manifestation
of bodhisattva. During each recitation we dedicate the merits with
this Lotus Sutra Chpter 25, Kuan Yin verse to him.
He is endowed with transcendental powers
and widely practices the expedient means of wisdom.
Throughout the lands in the ten directions
there is no region where he does not manifest
himself.
In many different kinds of evil
circumstances,
in the realms of hell, hungry spirits or
beasts,
We always pray for the Buddha and holy ones to
manifest themselves, to preach the Dharma to him to relieve his
suffering.
Eversince the dream, I realised that the Buddhist teaching of
dedication of merits is so profound that though we see not with our
eyes yet its effect in the invisible spiritual realm is
so vast.
Gassho
Namu Myo Ho Renge Kyo