Guys,

In Buddhism, I understand that a spirit can take up to 100 days to re-incarnate, is my understanding correct? So after 100 days, why to family members still pray for the deceased (e.g. during Ching Ming, Hungry Ghost Festival, etc) when the spirit has already re-incarnated?

Thanks!

Buddhism and Chinese culture is not the same thing..
Buddhism comes from India and believe in reincarnation.
Ching Ming, Hungry Ghost Festival is Chinese culture/festival.

Your understanding is all messed up ...you mix Buddhism with , Confuciousm and Taoism.

hi TS , u sure ur understanding is the truth ?

how u even sure all that u know and understand is true?

Just like Buddhism, the core teachings of Confucianism and Taoism are purely philosophical.
Those weird rituals are probably distortion from contemporary great great grandfather traditions.

If the deceased was accorded with a Buddhist funeral, we would assume that the person is Buddhist isn't it? So in that case (strictly Buddhism), can we safely assume that during Ching Ming and Hungry Ghost Festival, worshipping of ancestor with food and burning of offering means nothing because his / her spirit has already passed on and re-incarnated? Both Buddhism and Taoism do believe in Hungry Ghost festival isn't it? But ceremonially, how do they differ?

Ermmm, did I say that my understanding was ultimately correct? I added the question "is my understanding correct?".

This post has been edited by pastacarbonara: Aug 9 2014, 09:08 PM

a few already giving you some of their thoughts....
now, my point is , how u gonna be sure that, those u read is the truth?

Hungry ghost festival has nothing to do with Buddhism...its cHinese culture, possibly Taoism (since Taoism is originated from the Chinese). But I dont want to assume...ask someone else who knows Taoism.

i won't say i am an expert in Buddhism but Buddha is an indian. are you saying he observe the ching ming tradition and hungry ghost festival? obviously not right.

are you clear now about the confusion you are in mixing Buddhism and Chinese tradition?

Didn't you learn this in school?

If TS knows it takes 100days... where did TS learn from, why TS never to consult the source of his learning? You call this 'Serious Kopitiam'? It's not I don't want to help but it looks like TS is deameaning religious believes.

This post has been edited by KoChun: Aug 9 2014, 11:09 PM

Well that's the whole point of this discussion now isn't it?

Actually, I have gone through Wikipedia.



Well, Buddha Himself, may be an Indian or Buddhism itself originated from India but I think the principles of his teaching has nothing to do with him being an Indian or from India or not right? It's not that I am confused but this is what I observed. Read my reply below please.

I think you're assuming a little too much. It's deemed demeaning because I asked a question? What I am asking here is based on what I observed. Now, a while ago, a person whom was very close to me passed away. We all agreed on Buddhist funeral for the deceased. With that. nuns came every night and we recited prayers. On the last night of the ceremony (the night before the casket leaves for the crematorium), we burned some paper effigies. That made me wonder, why do we need to do these as clearly Buddhism believes in the concept of reincarnation after 100 days. Source here clearly mentioned that spirits are reborn 3 days, 21 days, 49 days or 100 days after death, and in some cases even 7 years. Apart from the burning of paper effigy, other aspects of the funeral has also been mixed with other practices, such as choosing of the right columbarium spot, etc.

With that said, I am wondering, why do we put effort into treating the deceased are a living entity when clearly Buddhism teaches that the spirit will re-incarnate.

I may not be believer or practitioner of Buddhist or Taoism faith but I do observe these rites when it is required of me to do so. In fact I am heading to Nilai tomorrow for some prayers.

This post has been edited by pastacarbonara: Aug 9 2014, 11:47 PM

condolence for ur lose. coincidentally, some one i know died yesterday morning , accident, die on the spot.

what i think is that doesn't matter 3 or 21 or 49 or 100 day, reborn what day is non of our business, especially those that still live.
it mean more to those monk/nun as they need to perform the ritual or ceremony correctly as per what previous people passed down.

all these tradition and religion ceremony stuff is just purpose to ease those who still live's sorrow. Treating those who die as they still live is an act of sorrow where the living still wish the dead is still live.

As has been mentioned by others, buddhism among chinese, has been mixed with taoism, confucianism, moism, animism, ancestral worship etc. Contrary to popular msian belief, only a small number of chinese are practising buddhist, while majority of chinese here are taoist. They are only buddhist on paper because our government punya stupid forms only recognise buddhism as religion (when in fact it is not) but refuse to acknowledge the existence of taoism.

The ritual of burning of effigies, offerings and etc are all NOT buddhism, just to be clear. buddhism principles advises followers to accept that death is natural, and for surviving members to live and let go. However the practise of ancestral worship, paying respects to the departed is a deeply entrenched cultural practise for the chinese, long before buddhism even reaches china.

One may choose to follow strictly to the knowledge and practise of a devout buddhist, or one may choose not to. After all if one is not a buddhist, why must one subscribe to buddhist principles anyway?

However this is the beauty of buddhism, that is, you are free to choose your way. What Lord Buddha left for us is his knowledge and understanding of the subject matter called enlightenment. He has merely lay down a guide to achieve our own enlightenment and freedom from samsara, freedom from suffering and freedom from cycle of death and rebirth. He does not rule over your life, neither rewarding you for your obedience nor condemn you to hell if you turn your back on him (or his teaching).

Hence due to the liberal attitude of buddhism, it is no surprise that in the course of spreading the knowledge, there are bound to be teachers who would modify come contexts to suit the local populace where the knowledge of buddhism are taught, and hence today you see plenty of variations, and different forms of buddhism around the world. Theravadin, mahayana, tibetan, zen, new age etc. they may differ in terms of practises, rituals, rites, and some even propagated to the realm of mysticism and religionism, however the most basic reason of buddhism remains the same, and that is for deliverance and freedom from samsara.

Hence, whether rebirth is immediate, 3 days,7 days , 100 days or whatever, does it matter? The basic understanding is that death and rebirth occured. And because of death, it caused pain and suffering to the remaining family members and friends. And rebirth occured, because one has yet to achieve enlightenment, due to attachment to cling to life, or to be dragged down by own bad karmas of past. Hence when we are still alive and we have a concious mind, we are provided with the best opportunity and environment to seek and understand dharma (buddhist teachings), to judge and learn, and to make concious decisions that will lead to enlightenment and freedom.

This post has been edited by andrewhtf: Aug 10 2014, 01:02 AM

Samm, is that someone, his name is james?

Real Buddhists, either Mahayana/Theravada don't believe in Hungry Ghost Festival. IMO people who are into Buddhism just do it because of tradition.

This post has been edited by wesleyktr: Aug 10 2014, 01:09 AM

Great answer. And I think you're right. Coincidentally, I found this article here. It says:-


In a way, I think the practice of Buddhism among Chinese is somewhat dynamic or liberal as you've said. I've always had the notion that like other religion or belief, the practice of Buddhism is strictly according to the teachings of Buddha himself.

Thanks for the clarification.

This post has been edited by pastacarbonara: Aug 10 2014, 02:01 AM

if u see those burn paper car or paper money for the deceased means its taoism ...buddism have no such practice ...

Since when Wikipedia is the ultimate source of all matters related to religion. It's full of errors and misinformation. Some people even mentioned VIOS and CITY are C-Segment cars matter of factly...LOL.

Yes. So i guess ur one of the biker that know him too?

We're from the same town. I only rode once with him last year, coming down from genting at midnight. Didnt seem to be a fast rider to me, so the circumstances of his accident is hardly believeable... But then again, things happened. Nothing we can do. Just hoped that he is peaceful and reborn in a better life.