Buddhism/Taoism and the dead loved ones
-
Can anyone help? My mum left for more than 49 days already and on the 1st and 15th days of the lunar month she comes back. I was told initially when they pass on they will come back because they have not gone to the deeper level of hell so easy for them to return. She visited me often during the 49 days. In the dream, she even told me she will bless me.
The dead loved ones return after the 49 days period:
1) is it true as in what others say that they can't let go of their living loved ones?
2) by coming back, visiting the living loved ones mean will affect them for rebirth?
3) they come back because rebirth does not take place so soon?
-
u are thinking in the sense of 投胎 as in the ghost movies? actually in Buddhism, there are six different realms.
http://web.singnet.com.sg/~alankhoo/DharmaRealm.htm
if they are reborn in hell or animal or human or asura realms, don't think they can "come back" and intervene our dreams.
however if one is reborn in ghost realm then it could be the reason that she choose the 1st and the 15th... as a month in the ghost realm is about 1 day in human realm. and yes ghost can sometimes intervene with our dreams especially with the love ones.
as for heavenly realm. they also can intervene with our dreams, but rare. moreover, 49 days is just too soon. as 500 year in human realms would be abt 1 day in the first level of heaven, at least.
clinging to loved ones is one of the main cause of reborning in the the ghost realm. so if she's really in the ghost realm, it would be safe to say that she wouldn't go deeper or re-reborn into hell realm. "normally" i read for those very bad ones, then they will undergo retribution in hell realm first then after their karma is exhasuted, they are reborn in animal realm then ghost realms then human realm etc. as to leave the ghost realm and enter human realm again, they properly have to let go or exhaust their clinging for their loved ones first.
the "7*7=49 days" saying is got to do with the "bardo" (in-between) period, whereby a dead person has not been lead by their karma to the next realm. during this bardo period, the activities is also pretty similar to the ghost/spiritual realm.
/\
-
1. Most people cannot bear to leave behind their loved ones, even after they die. This is in fact, one of the reasons why they cannot leave this cycle of birth and death.
2. The state of mind before a person's death is very important. By not letting go, and by having a lot of fear, this will affect where they will be reborn. Of course, karmic actions play an important role too. When a person has a horrified death (eg murdered) he may be born into the realm of the ghost.
3. There're many different theories as to the period to a person's rebirth. Some (esp. the Tibetans) believe it's 49 days but other traditions may say that it's instant.
If you feel that your mother is visiting you, pls say it out loud to her to let go. Assure her that you can take care of yourself so that she can finally put down this burden and be reborn into a desirable realm.
For you, it is also time to let go. We have to understand that nobody can escape birth and death, and it is just the natural order for a person to die. When the conditions for existence are no longer there, we just die. We have to accept that our births and deaths have actually occurred countless times, and every time we suffer in it. That is why we practise the Dharma, so that we can be eventually free from samsara.
It is very very rare to be born as a human, and also to encounter the Dharma, so pls make the best out of your current life.
Metta.
-
Originally posted by sinweiy:
u are thinking in the sense of 投胎 as in the ghost movies? actually in Buddhism, there are six different realms.
http://web.singnet.com.sg/~alankhoo/DharmaRealm.htm
if they are reborn in hell or animal or human or asura realms, don't think they can "come back" and intervene our dreams.
however if one is reborn in ghost realm then it could be the reason that she choose the 1st and the 15th... as a month in the ghost realm is about 1 day in human realm. and yes ghost can sometimes intervene with our dreams especially with the love ones.
as for heavenly realm. they also can intervene with our dreams, but rare. moreover, 49 days is just too soon. as 500 year in human realms would be abt 1 day in the first level of heaven, at least.
clinging to loved ones is one of the main cause of reborning in the the ghost realm. so if she's really in the ghost realm, it would be safe to say that she wouldn't go deeper or re-reborn into hell realm. "normally" i read for those very bad ones, then they will undergo retribution in hell realm first then after their karma is exhasuted, they are reborn in animal realm then ghost realms then human realm etc. as to leave the ghost realm and enter human realm again, they properly have to let go or exhaust their clinging for their loved ones first.
the "7*7=49 days" saying is got to do with the "bardo" (in-between) period, whereby a dead person has not been lead by their karma to the next realm. during this bardo period, the activities is also pretty similar to the ghost/spiritual realm.
/\
thanks for your reply.
however if one is reborn in ghost realm then it could be the reason that she choose the 1st and the 15th... as a month in the ghost realm is about 1 day in human realm. and yes ghost can sometimes intervene with our dreams especially with the love ones.
other than the 1st and 15th days of the month, that day 2 days before 15th a moth was flying and rested on my hand for a second. ON the 1st of the month saw this same size of moth in the bathroom of my cousin's house where I was staying for a while.
How to find out if she has gone for rebirth? I don't want her to become animals and so on. Actually, I have many times told her that I can take care of myself and asked her not to worry but to go to the place she can find happiness and told her that the goddess of mercy will take care of her. When my mum comes back, she was with a white flash of light. I spoke to a shifu about this, shifu said white light is good and blue light is no good.
-
Originally posted by Rick555:
1. Most people cannot bear to leave behind their loved ones, even after they die. This is in fact, one of the reasons why they cannot leave this cycle of birth and death.
2. The state of mind before a person's death is very important. By not letting go, and by having a lot of fear, this will affect where they will be reborn. Of course, karmic actions play an important role too. When a person has a horrified death (eg murdered) he may be born into the realm of the ghost.
3. There're many different theories as to the period to a person's rebirth. Some (esp. the Tibetans) believe it's 49 days but other traditions may say that it's instant.
If you feel that your mother is visiting you, pls say it out loud to her to let go. Assure her that you can take care of yourself so that she can finally put down this burden and be reborn into a desirable realm.
For you, it is also time to let go. We have to understand that nobody can escape birth and death, and it is just the natural order for a person to die. When the conditions for existence are no longer there, we just die. We have to accept that our births and deaths have actually occurred countless times, and every time we suffer in it. That is why we practise the Dharma, so that we can be eventually free from samsara.
It is very very rare to be born as a human, and also to encounter the Dharma, so pls make the best out of your current life.
Metta.
I am not sure if I have let go, really. All I know now is I want my mum to be happy in the other world and hope she will not go for rebirth as animals or insect.
Different times, do they choose what they want to be to come back to visit us? For eg, moth, butterful or others.
-
Hi qiqq9, I'm really very sorry. I can fully understand your anguish and your desire to have your mother happy.
But you know, it is very difficult for ordinary beings like us to know if your mother has come back as moths or reborn as human/ghost/insect. Many people can speculate on this, but they will not be able to give you a sure answer.
If you believe that your mother is reborn in the lower realms, then dedicating your good deeds to her will help. You can also read 'The original vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva' sutra. Inside will give details on how to relieve her suffering. You can get this book for free in many temples, or you can read from the internet. Trust the words of Buddha, rather than people like us who are not yet enlightened, although we can point the way :)
Also, pls do not be fixated on the '49 day period'. You must remember that nobody has ever said that it is 49 'human' days. Pls also use this experience to remind yourself that the saha world is suffering, and do not abandon the Dharma when you're in happier times in the future.
Metta.
-
Originally posted by qlqq9:
other than the 1st and 15th days of the month, that day 2 days before 15th a moth was flying and rested on my hand for a second. ON the 1st of the month saw this same size of moth in the bathroom of my cousin's house where I was staying for a while.How to find out if she has gone for rebirth? I don't want her to become animals and so on. Actually, I have many times told her that I can take care of myself and asked her not to worry but to go to the place she can find happiness and told her that the goddess of mercy will take care of her. When my mum comes back, she was with a white flash of light. I spoke to a shifu about this, shifu said white light is good and blue light is no good.
i'm not sure if there's such a thing as ghost/heavenly beings transfering/manifesting their consciousness/"soul" into the body of a moth, as a form of visiting their loved ones. it could properly be a scientific explaination where moth are just attracted to some smell of incense or candle light or something. i'll have my reserve for this.
how you come to encounter the "white flash of light" btw?
/\
/\
-
Originally posted by sinweiy:
i'm not sure if there's such a thing as ghost/heavenly beings transfering/manifesting their consciousness/"soul" into the body of a moth, as a form of visiting their loved ones. it could properly be a scientific explaination where moth are just attracted to some smell of incense or candle light or something. i'll have my reserve for this.
how you come to encounter the "white flash of light" btw?
/\
/\
u hv asked a question that I can't answer, think only the people from the other world can answer.
hello, even those shifu acknowledges that they can come back as moth, butterfly.
well, I am still seeking for better understanding of whatever that is happening, I believe there are people who know about it.
-
Originally posted by qlqq9:
hello, even those shifu acknowledges that they can come back as moth, butterfly.
i see. just wondering the shifu is from Buddhism or Taoism?/\
-
Originally posted by sinweiy:
i see. just wondering the shifu is from Buddhism or Taoism?/\
He practises taoism. Taoism and buddhism are inseparable. In buddhism, do we have to pray to the new dead loved ones 8 times a year? -
Originally posted by qlqq9:
He practises taoism. Taoism and buddhism are inseparable. In buddhism, do we have to pray to the new dead loved ones 8 times a year?Buddhism originates from India which later spread to Korea, Japan, Laos, Thailand, China, Burma, Tibet and other parts of the world.
Taoism originates from China.
The teachings and belief are different.
They are seperate religion.
We do not need to pray to the deceased 8 times a year. In fact, the burning ofoffering are not encouraged in Buddhism as it will not help the deceased.
-
Originally posted by qlqq9:
He practises taoism. Taoism and buddhism are inseparable. In buddhism, do we have to pray to the new dead loved ones 8 times a year?
I believe every child's wish is the best for their parents, hence I can understand your sense of loss at this point of time. As some of the dharma brothers have correctly pointed out, 49 days after passing on is an important period for the deceased in Vajrayana, as they will be experiences various phenomenon within their conscious, which will pretty determind where they seek rebirth in. Of course, this will also depend very much on their karma and merits they have accumulated during their lifetime, this and previous. This stage is indeed called the Bardo stage. During this time, the family members, as yourself, are encouraged to chant sutras and do good/go vege and dedicate the merits to their love ones, so that with this merits, it'll help the remaining conscious to take the right path towards liberation.Many a times, the chanting Shifu do combine Buddhist scripture/mantras with Taoist mantra when they performed the right, cos they feel that it will help the dead to seek rebirth in a higher realm, such as the Heavenly realm. Though their interpretation may not be right, their intention and motivation is afterall, for the better of the dead.
In Buddhism context, the chanting of sutras during these 49 days is a way we communicate to the dead to remind them of Buddha's teaching and the importance of letting go of attachment, so that they could be free from samsara eventually and move on to one of the paradise land of the buddhas or bodhisattvas. Of course, the teachings is for the living as well, to understand impermanence.
Having said, that doesn't mean that the family members' job are done after 49 days. In fact, constant doing good and dedicate merits will still help the dead in terms of accumulation of merits, so that even though they remained within samsara, they will eventually enjoy the benefits of the merits and remained on the path towards liberation.
Your mother is definitely very fortunate to have a child like you, and there is still alot ways you can do to help your mother. Understand the buddha's teaching and practise dilligently is the best thing you could do to help your mother, as well as all other sentient beings.
-
Originally posted by werther:
Buddhism originates from India which later spread to Korea, Japan, Laos, Thailand, China, Burma, Tibet and other parts of the world.
Taoism originates from China.
The teachings and belief are different.
They are seperate religion.
We do not need to pray to the deceased 8 times a year. In fact, the burning ofoffering are not encouraged in Buddhism as it will not help the deceased.
By right Taoism is not a religion. Tao is a "Way of Life" explaining life in simple perspective. If you being in national service, the metal tags that every soldier carries would have your IC number and religion. In my time, Taoism is classified as "Others".I do not know about now.
In fact, the cult following as in Taoism becoming recognised as a religion after a while. But it is very difficult for man to differentiate between prayng "bai" and respect "chong bai" to a sage or a dead person.
In Taoism, offering of three joss sticks denotes carrying of messages to the ancestors or deities. But I see it is also being offered (one joss stick?) to Buddhas.
I can safely equate that we must have a direction (ancestors, deities, images) and a purpose (joss sticks) to complete the rite in the prayings. Life in simple perspective...
-
Originally posted by Rick555:
3. There're many different theories as to the period to a person's rebirth. Some (esp. the Tibetans) believe it's 49 days but other traditions may say that it's instant.
Both Vajrayana/Tibetan and also Mahayana.
-
Originally posted by dragon_stone:
In Taoism, offering of three joss sticks denotes carrying of messages to the ancestors or deities. But I see it is also being offered (one joss stick?) to Buddhas.
The offering of incense is a tradition dating back to ancient India, so is not a particularly Taoist/Chinese culture.
-
Originally posted by dragon_stone:
By right Taoism is not a religion. Tao is a "Way of Life" explaining life in simple perspective. If you being in national service, the metal tags that every soldier carries would have your IC number and religion. In my time, Taoism is classified as "Others".I do not know about now.
In fact, the cult following as in Taoism becoming recognised as a religion after a while. But it is very difficult for man to differentiate between prayng "bai" and respect "chong bai" to a sage or a dead person.
In Taoism, offering of three joss sticks denotes carrying of messages to the ancestors or deities. But I see it is also being offered (one joss stick?) to Buddhas.
I can safely equate that we must have a direction (ancestors, deities, images) and a purpose (joss sticks) to complete the rite in the prayings. Life in simple perspective...
umm, umm, if you don't mind. Buddhism is not a religion, it is the teaching of buddha for enlightenment. It is the human that made buddhism a religion.
-
Originally posted by qlqq9:
thanks for your reply.
however if one is reborn in ghost realm then it could be the reason that she choose the 1st and the 15th... as a month in the ghost realm is about 1 day in human realm. and yes ghost can sometimes intervene with our dreams especially with the love ones.
other than the 1st and 15th days of the month, that day 2 days before 15th a moth was flying and rested on my hand for a second. ON the 1st of the month saw this same size of moth in the bathroom of my cousin's house where I was staying for a while.
How to find out if she has gone for rebirth? I don't want her to become animals and so on. Actually, I have many times told her that I can take care of myself and asked her not to worry but to go to the place she can find happiness and told her that the goddess of mercy will take care of her. When my mum comes back, she was with a white flash of light. I spoke to a shifu about this, shifu said white light is good and blue light is no good.
As Sinweiy suggested, if your mom keeps appearing to you.... it could be that she is attached and stuck to the ghost realm. The window of opportunity for rebirth is within 49 days, after which if he had not been reborn elsewhere will become ghost.
What you can do is to go Buddhist monasteries during the 7th Month, attend the Fa Hui, donate to the sangha (community of monks and nuns), etc... and dedicate the merits to your mother. Regardless whether she is in ghost realm or even higher realm, she can benefit from it. If she is in ghost realm she can be reborn in human realm faster.
-
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
As Sinweiy suggested, if your mom keeps appearing to you.... it could be that she is attached and stuck to the ghost realm. The window of opportunity for rebirth is within 49 days, after which if he had not been reborn elsewhere will become ghost.
What you can do is to go Buddhist monasteries during the 7th Month, attend the Fa Hui, donate to the sangha (community of monks and nuns), etc... and dedicate the merits to your mother. Regardless whether she is in ghost realm or even higher realm, she can benefit from it. If she is in ghost realm she can be reborn in human realm faster.
Please tell me more about the Fa Hui, do I have to do anything, go to which monasteries are reliable? Me very new to buddhism, actually I am doing all this for my mum, personally I am not into religion.Thanks for telling me so.
-
Originally posted by qlqq9:
Please tell me more about the Fa Hui, do I have to do anything, go to which monasteries are reliable? Me very new to buddhism, actually I am doing all this for my mum, personally I am not into religion.Thanks for telling me so.
Hi I have personally not gone to this fa hui for a very very long time... so I can't remember. But I can give you the links and contacts and address.... you can find out from there.
p.s. there's also an article i posted in this forum before regarding the 7th month:
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol5no1a.htm
Volume 5 no 1
Feature
Ullambana Dharma - not Festival of Hungry Ghosts
By Venerable Shen-Kai
According to a popular Chinese superstition, ghosts are released from hell in the 7th month of the Chinese calendar for a one-month break in the human world. In order to appease them, animals are slaughtered and offered to these 'hungry ghosts', together with other food. Big feasts and other festivities are held during this month and the most 'auspicious day' is the 15th day of the month. It is so widespread that this yearly affair is dubbed the Month or Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. What is this all about?
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.
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.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.
© Copyright 2002.Jen Chen Buddhism Centre
Designed by DCS Solutions Ltd -
Originally posted by qlqq9:
umm, umm, if you don't mind. Buddhism is not a religion, it is the teaching of buddha for enlightenment. It is the human that made buddhism a religion.
Its going to be a very long night. I wonder why application forms have a entry on the candidate religion? Why national service metal tags have so call major religions to be engraved into them?
So what we have perceived all along is wrong and the atheists' views on religions or no religions are correct?
After all they are humans...
-
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Hi I have personally not gone to this fa hui for a very very long time... so I can't remember. But I can give you the links and contacts and address.... you can find out from there.
p.s. there's also an article i posted in this forum before regarding the 7th month:
http://www.jenchen.org.sg/vol5no1a.htm
Volume 5 no 1
Feature
Ullambana Dharma - not Festival of Hungry Ghosts
By Venerable Shen-Kai
According to a popular Chinese superstition, ghosts are released from hell in the 7th month of the Chinese calendar for a one-month break in the human world. In order to appease them, animals are slaughtered and offered to these 'hungry ghosts', together with other food. Big feasts and other festivities are held during this month and the most 'auspicious day' is the 15th day of the month. It is so widespread that this yearly affair is dubbed the Month or Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. What is this all about?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.
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.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.
© Copyright 2002.Jen Chen Buddhism Centre
Designed by DCS Solutions LtdThanks. Though I understand the text you attached but I don't know what you are telling me.
-
Originally posted by dragon_stone:
Its going to be a very long night. I wonder why application forms have a entry on the candidate religion? Why national service metal tags have so call major religions to be engraved into them?
So what we have perceived all along is wrong and the atheists' views on religions or no religions are correct?
After all they are humans...
NS and religion?
-
Originally posted by coolbluewater:
I believe every child's wish is the best for their parents, hence I can understand your sense of loss at this point of time. As some of the dharma brothers have correctly pointed out, 49 days after passing on is an important period for the deceased in Vajrayana, as they will be experiences various phenomenon within their conscious, which will pretty determind where they seek rebirth in. Of course, this will also depend very much on their karma and merits they have accumulated during their lifetime, this and previous. This stage is indeed called the Bardo stage. During this time, the family members, as yourself, are encouraged to chant sutras and do good/go vege and dedicate the merits to their love ones, so that with this merits, it'll help the remaining conscious to take the right path towards liberation.Many a times, the chanting Shifu do combine Buddhist scripture/mantras with Taoist mantra when they performed the right, cos they feel that it will help the dead to seek rebirth in a higher realm, such as the Heavenly realm. Though their interpretation may not be right, their intention and motivation is afterall, for the better of the dead.
In Buddhism context, the chanting of sutras during these 49 days is a way we communicate to the dead to remind them of Buddha's teaching and the importance of letting go of attachment, so that they could be free from samsara eventually and move on to one of the paradise land of the buddhas or bodhisattvas. Of course, the teachings is for the living as well, to understand impermanence.
Having said, that doesn't mean that the family members' job are done after 49 days. In fact, constant doing good and dedicate merits will still help the dead in terms of accumulation of merits, so that even though they remained within samsara, they will eventually enjoy the benefits of the merits and remained on the path towards liberation.
Your mother is definitely very fortunate to have a child like you, and there is still alot ways you can do to help your mother. Understand the buddha's teaching and practise dilligently is the best thing you could do to help your mother, as well as all other sentient beings.
Well said, coolbluewater. The best things that can be done for the dead are by chanting and dedicating merits. Take heart, qiqq9, whether your mother is in the ghost realm or not , in the long run, does not become very important, because ultimately it's going to be temporary. We have probably gone into the six realms many times before coming into our current form. When all karmic effects are expiated, everything will start anew.
qiqq9, you said you're not into religion? Then do you believe in Buddhism? If you don't believe, then whatever we have said here about karma and dedicating good merits don't count anymore, and there's no use going to any fa hui. If you believe, then you also have to believe that all things are illusory and so dedicate yourself to practising the Dharma, not just for your mother but also for yourself and all sentient beings. We should not be looking into religion when you have a problem and abandon it after the problem is solved. I have a feeling that you're going to Taoism, Buddhism or what have you, as long as they can solve your problem. This is very dangerous because there are evil supernatural beings out there who can help you for a while but lead you astray in the end. I sincerely hope you will delve into the Dharma in the coming future.
-
Originally posted by Rick555:
Well said, coolbluewater. The best things that can be done for the dead are by chanting and dedicating merits. Take heart, qiqq9, whether your mother is in the ghost realm or not , in the long run, does not become very important, because ultimately it's going to be temporary. We have probably gone into the six realms many times before coming into our current form. When all karmic effects are expiated, everything will start anew.
qiqq9, you said you're not into religion? Then do you believe in Buddhism? If you don't believe, then whatever we have said here about karma and dedicating good merits don't count anymore, and there's no use going to any fa hui. If you believe, then you also have to believe that all things are illusory and so dedicate yourself to practising the Dharma, not just for your mother but also for yourself and all sentient beings. We should not be looking into religion when you have a problem and abandon it after the problem is solved. I have a feeling that you're going to Taoism, Buddhism or what have you, as long as they can solve your problem. This is very dangerous because there are evil supernatural beings out there who can help you for a while but lead you astray in the end. I sincerely hope you will delve into the Dharma in the coming future.
actually, I am interested to know more about buddhism but I am confuse about it. I respect people who believe and practise buddhism. I respect my mum and her buddhism and indirectly I believe in the teachings (may not be 100%, but I believe). Because of my mum, I somehow do believe in what people told me about it.Hope you guys are kind to enlighten me as I learn more about it.
-
Originally posted by qlqq9:
actually, I am interested to know more about buddhism but I am confuse about it. I respect people who believe and practise buddhism. I respect my mum and her buddhism and indirectly I believe in the teachings (may not be 100%, but I believe). Because of my mum, I somehow do believe in what people told me about it.Hope you guys are kind to enlighten me as I learn more about it.
Your mother has planted Bodhi seeds in you and in return has gotten a filial son/daughter, who now seeks the Buddhist way to relieve her suffering. Isn't this a wonderful example of (good) karma, and give us more reason to believe in it?
According to Master Chin Kung, we are still at the nursery stage in Buddhism so we're in no position to enlighten anyone. But we can definitely share in whatever we know and to try our best to spread the Dharma. Amituofuo.