Ghost? Christianity vs. Buddhism (Part 3)

Ghost? A dialog among Buddhist, Catholic and Christian (Buddhist point of view as heard by the author)

-As posted in my previous updates, I attended the talk about "ghost" hosted at Sin Chew Jit Poh-

(I will try my best to recall the whole talk with the help of notes taken)

The dialog started with Venerable Hui Xuan

Ghost. In the Buddhism view, ghosts are one of the sentient beings in the Preta Realm. We treat all sentient beings with compassion, especially those who fell into the three lower realm. Rather than exorcising them, as a Buddhist, we try to spread the gospel of Buddha to them, guiding them to the path of enlightenment. By preaching to ghost, with a compassionate heart, we are able to help them to lighten their suffering and encourage them to leave their current state to be reborn to a higher realm.

Thus, we should not discriminate ghost for they are just like us. Due to their sins and bad karma, they are reborn into the lower realm.

However, in most cases, your encounter what you think. Everything is from your preception and thinking. With evil thoughts and cultivation, we attract evil spirits. We shall practice the noble path (修行) in order to avoid interference from the evil spirits.

After Venerable Hui Xuan, Father Huang DaHua continued, follwed by Pastor Enoch Lam and then Venerable Chang Hui
(Christian and Catholic point of view will be posted in the next post)

Venerable Chang Hui expressed that she felt pressured after a very interesting yet informative speech given by Pastor Enoch Lam. She added on to the speech given by Venerable Xuan Hui, emphasizing on the quality of compassion. She stated that the compassionate intention of relieve suffering beings will able to touch the heart the ghost and enable them to repent their sin and return the proper path, thus leaving the Preta Realm.

She mentioned that in the engraved memories (Alaya- eight consciousnesses) of the deceased, the souls which are not able to be reborn will linger in our living dimension as ghost, retaining their living habits.

Before continuing, she apologized if there are any Malays attending the talk. She expressed that during Ullambana** (she actually meant the Chinese Ghost Festival), during the feeding of the hungry ghost ceremony, those who has gifted eyes are able to see that the ghosts rushed to fight for the food. She also pointed out that, those ghosts do not consist of only Chinese but also other races. Those who are Malay, in cases of the fasting month clashes with the Chinese Ghost Festival, they will refrain themselves from eating while observing their fellow "ghost-friends" enjoying the food. Even as ghost, they carry the habit that they practiced in the past.

(Comments by the Proper faith will be given in the next post)

-Proper faith-

False Prophet

Tantalizing and mesmerizing it may seems,
All these miracles which they possess,
From the righteous way they are not,
Innocent sheep astray they lead.

"After my Nirvana, in the Dharma-ending Age, these evil and deviant entities will abound, spreading like wildfire as they surreptitiously cheat others. Calling themselves good knowing advisors, they will each claim that they have attained the Unsurpassed Dharma. Enticing and deceiving the ignorant, or frightening people out of their wits, they disrupt and lay waste to households wherever they go."
-Shurangama Sutra Chapter 6-

Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
-Jeremiah 14:14 (KJV)

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
-Matthew 24:24 (KJV)

And they say: "Why are not signs sent down to him from his Lord? Say: " The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a plain warner." Is it not sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book (Quran) which is recited to them? Verily, herein is mercy and a reminder for a people who believe.
-Surah 29:50-51-

For the devil to sent his minions into the world, clothing themselves in preaching robes (priest, pastor, monks), their ultimate aim is to lead us away from the path of the righteousness, down to the pit of fire.

Most of these "preachers" posseses prohetic knowledge and able to perform certain miracles. Their miracles are not of the righteous but the black power of the devil. They preach to capture your heart and then lead it astray. With miracles they possess, it is not hard for any lost sheep who is dying for miraculous cure and relieve to fall into in.

Sheep we are and sheep are we. Naive and innocent we can be. As one sheep is lead astray by the evil shepard, the rest will surely follow from behind.

Let me relate to you the story of Buddha when he attained Bodhi.

Mara (the devil) tried to tempt and seduce Buddha with wealth, power and his three beautiful daughters. Failing to do so, Mara sent his horde of army to charge against Buddha. The arrows of his monsters lost their sharp points and spontaneously were covered with flowers.

Mara, unable to prevent Buddha from attaining enlightenment, demand Buddha for the his proof to Buddhahood. The Buddha touched the earth with his left hand, and called the earth to be his witness of his Buddhahood. The earth gave a trembling response. Evil may never have victory against Good.

Mara threaten Buddha that he would destroy his Dharma. Buddha claimed that the Dharma he preaches are of the righteousness and will stand strong again the test of evil. Mara admited that he is no match of the Buddha's way of truth.

However, Mara prophesized. "When you have passed on and your Dharma is not firmly upheld by your disciples, I will send my minions to infiltrate into your sanga. They will put on your robe, take your form and preach my evil ways."

Buddha wept.


-Proper faith-