Today, we gathered at Ammarin for our monthly Dhamma & Puja Gathering. The topic of today's Dhammadesana by Ven. Xian Bing of Mudita Center.
Even though we livein a modern world, we still see many Chinese people, including our parents, who pray for their ancestors by burning colorful papers in form of houses, car, clothes, airplanes, gold, etc.
At point another, we couldn't help but to wonder what the purpose of this tradition, this type of prayer, is, if any. Why do we do such things today, and will we have to carry on this tradition?
Ven. Xian Bing further explained that even if the burned goods do not get to spesific persons whom we intended to, we would be happy to see you contributing to doing good deeds. These spirits very well be your family on your past lives, as we have lived thousands, if not milions, of lives before the current life.
Quoting the Buddha, "Even if you carry your mother on your left sholder and your father on the right shoulder, and walk on burning lava for the rest of your life, it will not be enough to payback their deeds". I have learned a lot from this Dhammadesana, and I wish to share this with you. May all beings happy.
Source: Connection, January 2011
Facebook: