[post partially extracted from 2nd page of Q&A topic in ~
Buddhism: Wisdom & Bliss ~. please read Q&A topic for more
replies about ghosts and other questions and doubts about
Buddhism]
This post is originally from the Q&A topic, but I thought it
would be interesting for some readers.
Have you ever seen a ghost before? I myself have a seen a ghost
before, so I surely believe in the existence of ghosts
but I dont
feel like telling my ghost story to everyone in the world. Some of
those who are close to me in IRC have heard about it.
Some of you do not believe in ghosts, some of you do believe in
ghosts, whether you believe in it doesn't matter in your
buddhadharma cultivation. However, those who were able to see them
(i'm sure some of you have seen a ghost before), including saints
and tathagathas who have opened their deva eye, described about the
existence of ghost realm. And since Im sure some of you are
interested to know more about the unseen, and I myself have given
myself duty as a Buddhist to try to dispel the common
misunderstandings of ghosts (or anything else actually) in
Buddhism, I have posted this as a new topic in the forum.
The ghost is one out of the 3 Lower Realms (Animals, Ghosts, Hell),
while the 3 Higher Realms consist of Asuras (jealous gods,
demi-gods), Humans, Devas (heavenly beings). (also see topic:
Different Realms & Existences in Buddhism)
The Ghost have many types. Just like an Animal have many types...
many species. There are tens, or hundreds, of different types of
ghosts, but here I'll only speak of the most commonly focused 2
types.
The most common one is called "Hungry Ghost". The "Hungry Ghost
festival" have some links with this type of ghosts... But then,
there is a great common misconception. Firstly, 7th month is NOT a
festival! How can the sufferings of ghosts be celebrated? It is a
folly of Chinese tradition. The 7th month originated from Buddhism
2,500 years ago, it's about the liberation of Petas (hungry
ghosts), the practice of merits in order to save these pitiful
beings.
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol5no1a.htm
Among the chief disciples of the Buddha was one named
Maudgalyayana. He had immense supernatural powers: Deva-foot
ubiquity which made it possible for him to appear at any place at
will, the divine sight of Deva-eye to have unlimited vision of all
things, large and small, near and distant; Deva-ear to hear all
sounds regardless of the distance. Furthermore, he had the ability
to read and understand whatever was in a person's mind. He also had
the ability to see clearly the events that occurred in a person's
many past lives aeons ago. Thus, Maudgalyayana is considered to be
a Maha-Bodhisattva who is foremost in supernatural powers.
One day, his Deva-eye saw that his deceased mother had
transmigrated to the realm of the hungry ghost. Her stomach was
enlarged and she had tiny limbs. Her throat was as small as the eye
of a needle, and as a result, it was impossible for her to eat any
food or even to swallow a drop of water. Maudgalyayana could not
bear the sight of his mother in such an extreme state of suffering.
He immediately filled his alms bowl with food and with the immense
power that he possessed, he sent it to his mother. However, she
could not have the food because each time it turned into charcoal
before she could put it in her mouth. It hurt Maudgalyayana to see
what was happening and because of his strong emotion for his
mother, it hindered his ability to see the karma that she had
committed in her past lives. He went to Buddha for advice. The
Buddha closed his eyes and entered into pure contemplation. With
great compassion and gentleness, he said: "Maudgalyayana, your
mother did not believe in the retributions arising from the law of
cause and effect. She committed many evil deeds. She dishonoured
the Buddha and insulted the Sangha [1], had no respect for the
Three Treasures (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha), was greedy, filled
with hatred, ignorant and arrogant. She was a wicked person who
committed many evils, and she teased others giving them no peace.
Therefore, she is suffering such a bitter consequence. Even though
you are her son and your filial piety touches the heavens, these
are still not able to save a person who had committed such serious
evil karma." On hearing this, Maudgalyayana wept in pain.
The Buddha continued to console him, "It is impossible to rely
solely on your own effort to save your mother from the realm of the
hungry ghost. The only way is to use the combined merits of the
Sangha. The 15th day of the 7th month of each year is designated
"Buddha's Joy Day". This is the last day of the Sangha's summer
retreat, and because of the purity with which the Sangha observed
the precepts and practised cultivation, many attain the Bodhi [2].
The merits that they accumulate are immense beyond imagination, and
the Buddha is most delighted. If you make an offering to these
Sangha during this time, you can liberate your deceased parents and
relatives from the suffering of the three evil realms (realms of
animal, hungry ghost and hell) through their immense merits. If the
parents are still living, then they shall be blessed with good
health, happiness and a life of abundance. This is the truly
marvellous method of giving salvation to the deceased."
Maudgalyayana was delighted to hear this, and carried out the
Buddha's advice accordingly. Thus, on the 15th of the 7th month
after the offering to the Sangha, Maudgalyayana's mother was
liberated from the suffering of the realm of the hungry
ghost.
To give offering to the Sangha in this way is called the
'Ullambana' method. After Maudgalyayana received the benefits from
this Dharma, he was very grateful to the Buddha and praised the
merits of the Three Treasures. He advised people to promote the
'Ullambana Dharma'. This day, the 15th of the 7th month, can also
be considered an occasion to express our gratitude and filial piety
to our parents and ancestors. Unfortunately, the passage of time
saw a gradual erosion in its understanding and purpose, so much so
that this special occasion is not performed in accordance to the
Dharma. Today, this auspicious celebration has become a day of
widespread slaughter of animals to be used as offering to the
hungry ghosts. The original act of performing offerings to the
Sangha has become a day for feasting and making offerings to the
hungry ghosts, often referred to as 'to invite the good brothers to
a feast'. These practices are not only against the compassion of
the Buddha, but also a let down to Maudgalyayana who had advised
the world to be filial and to perform good deeds.
When we refrain from killing and protect all lives, we actually
accumulate the merit of longevity and good health. It is
meaningless to kill other living beings and offer them to the
ghost, because they cannot benefit from these at all. Instead,
those who kill shall have to repay for their action by suffering
endlessly in hell. Unless we put an end to all forms of killing,
the world forever shall not have peace. If the tradition of
offering to the ghosts and the deceased on this day cannot be
changed, the least we could do is to replace the slaughter and
offer of meat with vegetarian food, flowers or fruits. It does not
matter if we are not able to make offerings to the Sangha on this
day, but at least we could invite them to chant the sutra for the
purpose of liberating the deceased. In this way, it benefits both
the living and the deceased.
Notes
1. Sangha
The corporate assembly of at least 3 monks; in general the term has
come to mean a monk, or monks.
2. Bodhi
From budh; knowledge, understanding; perfect wisdom; the
illuminated or enlightened mind.
In Singapore, many people think that the Hell gates will open at
the 7th Month. As you can see from the above article, this is
untrue! Some people deviate the original Buddha's teachings and
mislead people. Or, according to the superstitions from traditions,
they will burn hell notes for these deceased and think that they
will gain all the material wealths.
Actually, you cannot bring material wealth to the ghosts in this
manner, neither do the ghosts need money to live in the ghost
realm. Have Buddha advised anyone to burn paper money for the
ghosts in the 7th Month?
The other type of ghosts is the "Ghost-Gods", called "Gui-Shen" in
Chinese. This type of gods or spirits are commonly worshipped or
asked for divination and answers. Or, sometimes in temples, they
summon the spirit-gods to possess the person and dance . I've yet
to see one of those shows, my friend went and told me it's really
horrible because the ghost cut up the body it possesed... I'm sure
not all of them are like that, but anyway, I don't think I'll go
and see one
Buddhism does not teach us to be superstitious about ghosts. We are
advised not to create yuan with these type of beings.
The ghosts are very attached beings, this is one of the causes that
led them to become a ghost.
Those "chosen" people were possessed by some other spirits who
claimed that they were the Tua ya bei, Ji gong and many many other
different types of gods, all these spirits were those human beings
who were very superstitious when they were alive and like to go to
all these superstitious places to learn these kind of teachings
& practice them. However, they have some good karma, and turn
into "ghost-gods" and are worshipped by humans.
These spirits would get angry & develop hatred easily when
their wishes were not fulfilled. They would punish those "chosen"
people, making them sick or worsen their living. There are dark
consequences to those who practice superstitiously... So I always
advise people to stay away from superstitions that have to do with
the ghosts, but instead, cultivate in accordance to the
Buddhadharma, teaching of bliss & wisdom.
