Can merits be transferred to the deceased?
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Yes, my understanding is the same as Sinweiy's. ç¦�å¾· can only help one to reborn in higher realm or reborn rich but not liberate from samsara. Inorder to liberate from samsara, one needs to have 功德. 功德 is “戒(precepts，定(samadhi)，慧(wisdom)“ which only practicing Buddhists can understand and have the opportunity to accumulate. Non practicing Buddhists are unlikely to understand what is “戒(precepts)，定(samadhi)，慧(wisdom)“ in Buddhism and thus have no opportunity to cultivate or accumulate 功德.
�德 can be accumulated by non Buddhists as it is about doing good deeds, donations etc. which many people are doing it. Doing good deeds and donations can also be 功德 if one can do it with a pure mind, meaning with no expectations of rewards in return. Many people have mistaken that Buddhism is all about doing good deeds, in fact Buddhism emphasize more on 功德 than �德.
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hmm when we doing chanting or puja aren't we upholding “戒(precepts，定(samadhi)，慧(wisdom)“ which is merits 功德. I suppose the problem is, we are always caught up with the notion of I AM (as mentioned by Eckhart Tolle) when doing A MERITOUS ACT. The big "I" ego problem. However, if we would do it from a perspective of Flower Adorenment Sutra, " There is no differences between a Buddha and Sentient Being." We are all the same. We are just sharing the little merit accrued through a simple act of devotion. It might turn up differently. In fact, I could testify to this merit transfer thingy. It goes beyond the distance, time, place and space. My deceased brother who has passed away in an accident due to drug consummation was able to receive the merits through our simple chanting Lotus Sutra 妙法蓮�經 and Namu Myoho Renge Kyo �無妙法蓮�經. He appears twice in my dream 6 month after his death and told me that he will become a local area deity 地主神 at certain date with specific instruction how and where to make offering to him after finishing his punishment in hell. The teaching of Buddha is inconceivable. Those Pali Sutta or Mahanyana Sutra about transference of merits is not a makeup fantasy. Once you experience it, you will know. Beside, the truth is our ancestor is living in our body too. Why? Because scientific study has told us that we are connected to our past generation through the DNA code. When diseases can be passed down from generation to generation. Therefore, in my own opinion when we are practicing Buddhism, they are also practicing with us although they MAY NOT be physical with us. In the same manner, we are practicing for our future generation to come. Gassho
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Originally posted by sinweiy:when Liang Wu Di built many pagodas and asked Bodhidharma whether got virtue or not, Bodhidharma said none 功德.功德 no (due to self wanting a reward) �德 have(can get one to reborn in higher realm, or reborn rich). when someone become a Budha/president, his family members do have some �德 merits "shared", like be reborn in heaven(up to Trayastrimsa) or gain some wealth or have a better life. but 功德 virtue has always been one's own cultivation./\
From my understanding, there is a difference between FD �德 and GD功德...
FD can only be used in future lives. GD's results can manifest within this life and used at the end of one's life to go to Pureland.
One of the main deciding factor of what positive deeds/ practice becomes FD or GD is one's motivation. If the motivation is to leave samsara and attain liberation for all sentient beings, then it can become GD. If it is a selfish or worldly motivation (ie to gain worldly benefits, like good health, fortune, relationships etc), then it can become FD.
FD and GD is not just a kind of merit bank account accumulation. But depends on your thought from moment to moment. If you give rise to a worldly motivation or a wish to enjoy worldly stuff in your next life, if your motivation degenerates in this way, all your past GD can be transformed instantly to FD.
There are also possibilities of wiping out your FD/GD easily with negative thoughts, wrongful actions etc. Therefore, the concept is not one of accumulating only but it should be viewed also like a state of mind. People with great GD automatically have a state of mind that is in line with the Dharma teachings.
Many people practise for many years mistaking these very important concepts, that is why there is often reversal or lack of progression. For Liang Wu Di, i heard that eventually he died of starvation in that very life. That may be because he had FD, not GD. FD to be used only in the next life.
This also explains why the old Chinese masters always emphasized for us to appreciate our merits 惜�，we should not waste our merits easily in this life and squander it on all kinds of enjoyment. The past masters were very careful with waste to ensure that they had sufficient merits and time to do practice and attain realisation.
Buddhists are often questioning themselves or asking others why it is that someone do a lot of good things but they still have so many miseries and problems. One of the reason is the difference between FD and GD. Someone may do alot of positive things, but the motivation is very weak. It may be for improving his worldly life, cure sickness, improve wealth etc. But there is no mind to seek liberation.
The other reason of course is that a practitioner who seeks liberation must be prepared to return all his karmic debts. There is no way to attain Buddhahood without returning all your debts.
The workings of karma are very intricate and accurate. Anyone who is wise will have the highest respect and care for cause-and-effect.
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FD can only be used in future lives.
from my understanding FD can also be manifest within this life bah. like what our old MCK is doing. old MCK started out very poor, but he donated out what ppl had given to him. knowing that giving or generosity is the cause of wealth, but not that he want wealth. the more he gave out the more it come in. it's a good practice. i do it too, and it can be seen in this life. i heard even the real "God of Wealth" also do it when he was a human and the merit manifested within his life-span too. everytime he earn from a business, he gave it all away to the poor and start all over again. and everytime, his business keep booming even though he started from zero. but u can say it can be something of the past.
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examples can also be seen in liao fan 4 lessons. the part on changing destiny in this life. http://www.buddhanet.net/liaofans.htm /\
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I refer to the second para on this post. Not the chiinese. The Tibetan Buddhists and other other buddhists are the ones who believe.
It is the Chinese belief that the spirit of a departed person will hang around for 49 days before moving on to another realm of proper rebirth.
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Originally posted by SJS6638:
I refer to the second para on this post. Not the chiinese. The Tibetan Buddhists and other other buddhists are the ones who believe.
It is the Chinese belief that the spirit of a departed person will hang around for 49 days before moving on to another realm of proper rebirth.
Someone recently tiao lao at my place. I have been avoiding the spot where she died. I suppose I can resume walking pass that area after 49 days because her spirit will not be hanging around there? -
Learn many knowledge from this discussion thread. Thanks and have a nice day.
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Originally posted by mr music:
Someone recently tiao lao at my place. I have been avoiding the spot where she died. I suppose I can resume walking pass that area after 49 days because her spirit will not be hanging around there?She may linger around your house aread other than the spot she jumped down. If you are affected psychological feel free to avoid.
According to the Chinese of Buddhism, they will have to get monk or priest to perform ritual to guide her spirit or soul away from that place to where she belongs then the place will be clean.
Long time ago, someone jumped down. I went to see the corpse and I was not affected. Nothing happen to me.
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I think å…ç¥–æƒ èƒ½ç¶“, Zen Master Hui Neng has answer it quite clearly. We should not caught up with the notion of merits, just practise with the flow. Prefect Wei ask, "that at Bodhidharma's first interview with Emperor Wu of Liang he was asked what merits the Emperor would get for the work of his life in building temples, allowing new monks to be ordained (royal consent was necessary at that time), giving alms and entertaining the Order; and his reply was that these would bring no merits ar all. Now, I cannot understand why he gave such an answer. Will you please explain." "These would bring no merits," replied the Patriarch. "Don't doubt the words of the Sage. Emperor Wu's mind was under an erroneous impression, and he did not know the orthodox teaching. Such deeds as building temples, allowing new monks to be ordained, giving alms and entertaining the Order will bring you only felicities, which should not be taken for merits. Merits are to be found within the Dharmakaya, and they have nothing to do with practices for attaining felicities." The Patriarch went on, "Realization of the Essence of Mind is Gong 功, and equality is Deå¾·. When our mental activity works without any impediment, so that we are in a position to know constantly the true state and the mysterious functioning of our own mind, we are said to have acquired Gong De (merits). Within, to keep the mind in a humble mood is Gong; and without, to behave oneself according to propriety is De. That all things are the manifestation of the Essence of Mind is Gong, and that the quintessence of mind is free from idle thoughts is De. Not to go astray from the Essence of Mind is , and not to pollute the mind in using it is De. If you seek for merits within the Dharmakaya, and do what I have just said, what you acquire will be real merits. He who works for merits does not slight others; and on all occasions he treats everybody with respect. He who is in the habit of looking down upon others has not got rid of the erroneous idea of a self, which indicates his lack of Gong. Because of his egotism and his habitual contempt for all others, he knows not the real Essence of Mind; and this shows his lack of De. Learned Audience, when our mental activity works without interruption, then it is Gong; and when our mind functions in a straightforward manner, then it is De. To train our own mind is Gong, and to train our own body is De. Learned Audience, merits should be sought within the Essence of Mind and they cannot be acquired by almsgiving, entertaining the monks, etc. We should therefore distinguish between felicities and merits. There is nothing wrong in what our Patriarch said. It is Emperor Wu himself who did not know the true way." http://www.dharmaweb.org/index.php/Sutra_of_Hui_Neng:_Chapter_3:_Questions_and_Answers 師曰。實無功德。勿疑先è�–之言。æ¦å¸�心邪ä¸�知æ£æ³•ã€‚é€ å¯ºåº¦åƒ§å¸ƒæ–½è¨é½‹ã€‚å��為求ç¦�。ä¸�å�¯å°‡ç¦�便為功德。功德在法身ä¸ã€‚ä¸�在修ç¦�。 師å�ˆæ›°ã€‚見性是功。平ç‰æ˜¯å¾·ã€‚念念無滯常見本性真實妙用。å��為功德。內心謙下是功。外行於禮是德。自性建立è�¬æ³•æ˜¯åŠŸã€‚心體離念是德。ä¸�離自性是功。應用無染是德。若覓功德法身但ä¾�æ¤ä½œã€‚是真功德。 若修功德之人。心å�³ä¸�輕常行普敬。心常輕人å�¾æˆ‘ä¸�斷。å�³è‡ªç„¡åŠŸã€‚自性虛妄ä¸�實。å�³è‡ªç„¡å¾·ã€‚為å�¾æˆ‘自大常輕一切故。 善知è˜ã€‚念念無間是功。心行平直是德。自修性是功。自修身是德。善知è˜ã€‚åŠŸå¾·é ˆè‡ªæ€§å…§è¦‹ã€‚ä¸�是布施供養之所求也。是以ç¦�德與功德別。æ¦æœƒä¸�è˜çœŸç�†ã€‚é�žæˆ‘祖師有é�Žã€‚ http://sm21.net/jing/lztj/i6je6c9p.htm
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Originally posted by mr music:
Someone recently tiao lao at my place. I have been avoiding the spot where she died. I suppose I can resume walking pass that area after 49 days because her spirit will not be hanging around there?
everywhere got these things BTW. 49 days; some can be 7, some can be 14, some can be 21 etc...not always 49. it's just an intermediate bardo state. after which they rebirth into another realm. so if she reborn into ghost realm(most properly), then she will always be there, more than 49 days. since it's a sucide, she would have to play out the same tiao lao scenario over and over again, until her karma is exhausted./\
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Gong De功德
what's Gong功? it's just like the ability to swim.
what's Deå¾·? it's the heart when you see someone is drowning , you swim to help them.
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She is a 27 year old girl. I wonder why she wanted to tiao lao as this is the age where one starts to enjoy life. That morning, I smelled her blood and corpse but she was covered up in tent. That area she died is a beautiful garden and I always have to make a big detour. I really hope her spirit can reincarnate.
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Earlier, I'd mentioned my friends went to draw lots to know the whereabouts of their loved ones who had passed away. According to them, they did it before 49 days but could not manage to get a lot. They only managed to draw a lot after 49 days had passed.
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Originally posted by Dawnfirstlight:
Earlier, I'd mentioned my friends went to draw lots to know the whereabouts of their loved ones who had passed away. According to them, they did it before 49 days but could not manage to get a lot. They only managed to draw a lot after 49 days had passed.
Hi Dawnfirstlight Knowing that the departed loved ones is in heaven is a source of comfort through drawing lot. However, it seem that there is no Buddhist sutra to support such form of practice as the protocol for point of reference. As drawing lot is a folklore practice æ°‘é–“ç¿’ä¿— not buddhist practice. I do not in anyway undermine the divine grace of Kuan Yin in offering a good advice through this method. As I had personally experience some good advice from her. Perhaps the proper Buddhist way is still through dedication of merits which is practise by Theravada and Manhayana buddhist. :-) -
Hi! Regarding transference of merits, I have always assumed that transference of merits is an integral part of buddhism rituals. For the theravadan practice of punnanumodana, after each puja session, there is both, one, an invitation for devas to share merits and another that accrue merits to one's departed relatives! So the question is; when was the practice of punnanumodana have been incorporated as part of the daily puja practice?