Originally posted by coolbluewater:
Thanks AEN! Anyway, i've also posted in other forums as well, and got immediate reply from forumners from MyCarforum. Anyway, have forwarded all the infos I've collated to my friend, hopefully it will help them.
I did remind them (as mentioned by one of the forumners) that maybe they could focus on chanting in the name of Buddha and dedicate the merit to the deceased, and not dwell on what food to give which will causes the deceased to have attachments. Well, let's just say that advise not well taken.
Oh yes forgot to say your last few lines... wanted to say but just forgot.
Yes, all these things are actually a form of folk tradition. This practise does not help the deceased... but rather we should put all our effort in getting the deceased be reborn in Pure Land or at least in higher realms. This is by dedicating merits to the deceased, chanting (the deceased might chant along as well if everyone chants around him), if best have a venerable speak to the dharma to the deceased.
Things like food, or giving whatsoever to him, will only cause more attachments and for a deceased person it would be best that we should let him go detached from all worldly things, tell him that everything will be taken care of, and it is time for him to leave. If one becomes too attached to worldly things, it will impede his rebirth and may in turn become a ghost.