Sunday, October 11, 2009
Reciting 10 days
"Moreover, Universally Expansive, if those beings in the future can recite this sutra once in front of any Buddha's or Bodhisattva's image during certain ten days including the first, eighth, fourteenth, fifteenth, eighteenth, twenty-third, twenty-fourth, twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth and thirtieth days of the lunar calendar, they will be safe, without any disasters. The neighboring families, both young and old, will be far away from evil. On these certain days the offences of living beings will be gathered together and judged, since all behavior or thoughts of those in the worlds are karma and an offence - not to speak of such offences as killing, stealing, debauching or slandering willfully. If people can recite this sutra once a month on the special ten days, their families can be free of every kind of disease and their clothes and food will be opulent.
Friday, October 9, 2009
被鬼压床 Pressed by ghosts in sleep
Ever experienced being pressed by ghosts in sleep?
Common symptoms are:
1. you wake up in the middle of your sleep
2. you are stationary and however you struggle you cannot move
3. you may open your eyes and look around but you can't turn your head/neck
4. you open your mouth to scream but no voice comes out
Scientist argues that this is caused by pressure/stress before sleep
or probably pressure on your chest during sleep
or unconscious state of mind being unstable.
Paranormal or Medical? You decide!
I believe in 鬼压床 because I often experience this when
many years back, continuously for years
The last time it came, it lets me see its appearance.
It was a lady in red with long hair that floats in an anti-gravity manner.
Then it never came back..
I supposed I had offended her in my previous life, maybe I took her life.
Another Catholic friend of mine saw a old male spirit
with skin likened to tree bark during her sleep.
I came across this article
and thought it would be helpful for those who are in this situation;
pardon me for the bad translation though.
[SOLUTION]
晚上常常梦到恶鬼、家亲眷属，或受到魇鬼压身，或者共鬼神游，
Often dreaming of
1. ferocious ghosts/spirits
2. spirits of deceased family members
3. resentful ghosts pressing one's body in sleep
4. touring/floating around with spirits.
这一类的，第二天早晨，在佛菩萨像前，将地藏菩萨本愿经恭恭敬敬地念一遍，回向给他，非常有 效。
For people who are suffering from the above symptoms, you may read the Ksitigarbha sutra respectfully once, in front of a bodhisattva statue the next morning. Dedicate the sutra recitation to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva will prove very useful.
(Ksitigarbha Sutra is available here - http://www.dizang.org/xj/dz01.htm; for those who are poor in mandarin and requires pinyin assistance like myself, you may visit here - http://www.chandao.com/zangchuanfojiao/79/106951.htm)
第二夜就非常平安，再也不会梦到鬼神。
The following night will be peaceful, he/she will not dream of spirits.
我出家两年受戒后，有一个过去的同事，他太太是佛教徒，曾经告诉我，她在一星期中曾梦到邻居的太太三次。
Two years after accepting monkhood, an ex-colleague's who is a buddhist once told me that she dreamt of her neighbour's deceased wife thrice a week.
邻居也 是同事，全家信基督教，太太过世了。她梦到过世的这个太太很可怜，好像生活很困难的样子，求她帮助，向她要钱。
The neighbour was also her colleague, whose family are Christians. She dreamt that the deceased neighbour was in a pitiful and difficult state and begged her for help and money.
她在梦中忘记她已死了，问她：‘你应该向你 先生要钱，怎么向我要呢？’这个太太告诉她：‘我先生没有钱，求你帮助。’一星期梦了三次，她忽然想到，她先生是基督徒，不烧纸钱。
In the dream, she had forgotten that the neighbour had already passed away, asked her "you should ask your husband for money instead, why do you approach me instead?"
the neighbour replied "my husband doesn't have any money, please help me."
Having the same dream thrice a week, she recalls the family being Christians and does not practice buring of incense paper/money.
我告诉她，给这个太太 烧点纸钱。此后就不再梦到了。所以，这个基督徒没有生天，还在饿鬼道，找学佛的人要钱。这是真实的事情。
I instructed her to burn some paper money for the deceased neighbour to cease the nightmare. This incident reflects that the Christian neighbour failed to go to heaven and still lingers in the Hungry Ghost Realm, looking for Buddhists to seek monetary aid. This is a true story.
烧纸钱对饿鬼道有用，其他道没用。印光大师对于这 桩事情，不反对也不赞成。为什么不赞成？因为佛教不烧纸钱。
Burning paper money only works with spirits in the Hungry Ghost Realm, it is not applicable to other realms. Monk Ying Guang responded that he does not agree or disagree with the solution.
Why disagree? Because Buddhists does not practice burning paper money.
不反对是因为万一他堕在鬼道，对他就有用处。有人过世，替他诵经念佛回向才是正确的，也要替他 做好事。
Why agree? Becaue if the deceased happen to end up at the Ghost Realm, he would have use with the paper money. The correct procedure/solution is to chant Buddhist sutras and dedicate the merit to the deceased; in addition, do good deeds with/under the name of the deceased.
article taken from
http://www.dizang.org/dzjd/qishi/p23.htm
poorly translated by
your humble blog author T_T
[Additional Information]
I have also read from Ksitigarbha Sutra that upon dedication of merits to the deceased,
the deceased can only receive 1/8 of the merit
7/8 of the merit will be received by the family members who chants the sutra or does the good deeds
From here we can see that it is a very difficult and tedious process
to transfer merits to the deceased (kind of like bank interests, yes?)
So the morale of this post is -
Accumulate merits when you are STILL ALIVE!
Common symptoms are:
1. you wake up in the middle of your sleep
2. you are stationary and however you struggle you cannot move
3. you may open your eyes and look around but you can't turn your head/neck
4. you open your mouth to scream but no voice comes out
Scientist argues that this is caused by pressure/stress before sleep
or probably pressure on your chest during sleep
or unconscious state of mind being unstable.
Paranormal or Medical? You decide!
I believe in 鬼压床 because I often experience this when
many years back, continuously for years
The last time it came, it lets me see its appearance.
It was a lady in red with long hair that floats in an anti-gravity manner.
Then it never came back..
I supposed I had offended her in my previous life, maybe I took her life.
Another Catholic friend of mine saw a old male spirit
with skin likened to tree bark during her sleep.
I came across this article
and thought it would be helpful for those who are in this situation;
pardon me for the bad translation though.
[SOLUTION]
晚上常常梦到恶鬼、家亲眷属，或受到魇鬼压身，或者共鬼神游，
Often dreaming of
1. ferocious ghosts/spirits
2. spirits of deceased family members
3. resentful ghosts pressing one's body in sleep
4. touring/floating around with spirits.
这一类的，第二天早晨，在佛菩萨像前，将地藏菩萨本愿经恭恭敬敬地念一遍，回向给他，非常有 效。
For people who are suffering from the above symptoms, you may read the Ksitigarbha sutra respectfully once, in front of a bodhisattva statue the next morning. Dedicate the sutra recitation to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva will prove very useful.
(Ksitigarbha Sutra is available here - http://www.dizang.org/xj/dz01.htm; for those who are poor in mandarin and requires pinyin assistance like myself, you may visit here - http://www.chandao.com/zangchuanfojiao/79/106951.htm)
第二夜就非常平安，再也不会梦到鬼神。
The following night will be peaceful, he/she will not dream of spirits.
我出家两年受戒后，有一个过去的同事，他太太是佛教徒，曾经告诉我，她在一星期中曾梦到邻居的太太三次。
Two years after accepting monkhood, an ex-colleague's who is a buddhist once told me that she dreamt of her neighbour's deceased wife thrice a week.
邻居也 是同事，全家信基督教，太太过世了。她梦到过世的这个太太很可怜，好像生活很困难的样子，求她帮助，向她要钱。
The neighbour was also her colleague, whose family are Christians. She dreamt that the deceased neighbour was in a pitiful and difficult state and begged her for help and money.
她在梦中忘记她已死了，问她：‘你应该向你 先生要钱，怎么向我要呢？’这个太太告诉她：‘我先生没有钱，求你帮助。’一星期梦了三次，她忽然想到，她先生是基督徒，不烧纸钱。
In the dream, she had forgotten that the neighbour had already passed away, asked her "you should ask your husband for money instead, why do you approach me instead?"
the neighbour replied "my husband doesn't have any money, please help me."
Having the same dream thrice a week, she recalls the family being Christians and does not practice buring of incense paper/money.
我告诉她，给这个太太 烧点纸钱。此后就不再梦到了。所以，这个基督徒没有生天，还在饿鬼道，找学佛的人要钱。这是真实的事情。
I instructed her to burn some paper money for the deceased neighbour to cease the nightmare. This incident reflects that the Christian neighbour failed to go to heaven and still lingers in the Hungry Ghost Realm, looking for Buddhists to seek monetary aid. This is a true story.
烧纸钱对饿鬼道有用，其他道没用。印光大师对于这 桩事情，不反对也不赞成。为什么不赞成？因为佛教不烧纸钱。
Burning paper money only works with spirits in the Hungry Ghost Realm, it is not applicable to other realms. Monk Ying Guang responded that he does not agree or disagree with the solution.
Why disagree? Because Buddhists does not practice burning paper money.
不反对是因为万一他堕在鬼道，对他就有用处。有人过世，替他诵经念佛回向才是正确的，也要替他 做好事。
Why agree? Becaue if the deceased happen to end up at the Ghost Realm, he would have use with the paper money. The correct procedure/solution is to chant Buddhist sutras and dedicate the merit to the deceased; in addition, do good deeds with/under the name of the deceased.
article taken from
http://www.dizang.org/dzjd/qishi/p23.htm
poorly translated by
your humble blog author T_T
[Additional Information]
I have also read from Ksitigarbha Sutra that upon dedication of merits to the deceased,
the deceased can only receive 1/8 of the merit
7/8 of the merit will be received by the family members who chants the sutra or does the good deeds
From here we can see that it is a very difficult and tedious process
to transfer merits to the deceased (kind of like bank interests, yes?)
So the morale of this post is -
Accumulate merits when you are STILL ALIVE!
Do you believe in Karma?
四天王，
Then Shakyamuni Buddha spoke again to the four Deva Kings, saying:
地藏菩萨若遇杀生者，说宿殃短命报。
"If Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva encounters beings who commit sin by killing, he helps them to realise that such sins shorten their lives.
若遇窃盗者，说贫穷苦楚报。
If he encounters thieves and robbers, he will lead them to understand that such evil actions will bring suffering and poverty to those who commit them.
若遇邪淫者，说雀鸽鸳鸯报。
When he meets adulterers, he tells them that they will be reborn as pigeons which are inseparable.
若遇恶口者，说眷属斗诤报。
He tells those addicted to harsh language that they will be born into quarrelsome families.
若遇毁谤者，说无舌疮口报。
If scandalmongers are met, then he warns them of the danger of being born without tongues or with horrible boils in their mouths.
若遇瞋恚者，说丑陋癃残报。
He assures those with hot temper that they may risk being reborn with ugly faces and deformed bodies.
若遇悭吝者，说所求违愿报。
Misers will not be successful in gaining their wishes,
若遇饮食无度者，说饥渴咽病报。
greedy beings who have no control over their diets will suffer hunger and thirst, and sickness of the throat.
若遇畋猎恣情者，说惊狂丧命报。
When he encounters hunters, he warns them that they are in danger of dying by terrible violence.
若遇悖逆父母者，说天地灾杀报。
Those who are guilty of disrespect for their parents will die in warfare or natural disasters.
若遇烧山林木者，说狂迷取死报。
Those who burn forests will die mentally unbalanced or suicide.
若遇前后父母恶毒者，说返生鞭挞现受报。
Those who are unkind to step-children will eventually receive the same treatment.
若遇网捕生雏者，说骨肉分离报。
Those who catch living things in nets will be separated from their children and families.
若遇毁谤三宝者，说盲聋喑哑报。
Those who despise the Triple-gems will be reborn deaf, dumb and blind.
若遇轻法慢教者，说永处恶道报。
Those who have no respect for the Teachings of the Buddha are always reborn in the evil realms of suffering.
若遇破用常住者，说亿劫轮回地狱报。
Those who steal from temples will be reborn in Hells for kalpas and kalpas.
若遇污梵诬僧者，说永在畜生报。
Monks and nuns guilty of sexual misconduct will be reborn as animals endlessly. Also the laity will be included in this punishment if they are well instructed in the precepts but violate them.
若遇汤火斩斫伤生者，说轮回递偿报。
Those beings who harm people with boiling water, fire, cutting or otherwise injuring them will, in their next life, receive the same treatment.
若遇破戒犯斋者，说禽兽饥饿报。
Those who encourage others to break the precepts shall be reborn as animals- always suffering from hunger.
若遇非理毁用者，说所求阙绝报。
Those who are guilty of stupid extravagance will never get their wishes fulfilled.
若遇吾我贡高者，说卑使下贱报。
Those who are proud and look down on others will have low births.
若遇两舌斗乱者，说无舌百舌报。
Gossips and tale-bearers will be reborn without tongues or else with one hundred tongues.
若遇邪见者，说边地受生报。
Those who cling to wrong views will be reborn in uncivilised places and endure suffering.
《地藏菩萨本愿经》经文(阎浮众生业感品第四)
Chapter Four: Evil Actions and Retributions of Human Beings of the Samsara World
Then Shakyamuni Buddha spoke again to the four Deva Kings, saying:
地藏菩萨若遇杀生者，说宿殃短命报。
"If Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva encounters beings who commit sin by killing, he helps them to realise that such sins shorten their lives.
若遇窃盗者，说贫穷苦楚报。
If he encounters thieves and robbers, he will lead them to understand that such evil actions will bring suffering and poverty to those who commit them.
若遇邪淫者，说雀鸽鸳鸯报。
When he meets adulterers, he tells them that they will be reborn as pigeons which are inseparable.
若遇恶口者，说眷属斗诤报。
He tells those addicted to harsh language that they will be born into quarrelsome families.
若遇毁谤者，说无舌疮口报。
If scandalmongers are met, then he warns them of the danger of being born without tongues or with horrible boils in their mouths.
若遇瞋恚者，说丑陋癃残报。
He assures those with hot temper that they may risk being reborn with ugly faces and deformed bodies.
若遇悭吝者，说所求违愿报。
Misers will not be successful in gaining their wishes,
若遇饮食无度者，说饥渴咽病报。
greedy beings who have no control over their diets will suffer hunger and thirst, and sickness of the throat.
若遇畋猎恣情者，说惊狂丧命报。
When he encounters hunters, he warns them that they are in danger of dying by terrible violence.
若遇悖逆父母者，说天地灾杀报。
Those who are guilty of disrespect for their parents will die in warfare or natural disasters.
若遇烧山林木者，说狂迷取死报。
Those who burn forests will die mentally unbalanced or suicide.
若遇前后父母恶毒者，说返生鞭挞现受报。
Those who are unkind to step-children will eventually receive the same treatment.
若遇网捕生雏者，说骨肉分离报。
Those who catch living things in nets will be separated from their children and families.
若遇毁谤三宝者，说盲聋喑哑报。
Those who despise the Triple-gems will be reborn deaf, dumb and blind.
若遇轻法慢教者，说永处恶道报。
Those who have no respect for the Teachings of the Buddha are always reborn in the evil realms of suffering.
若遇破用常住者，说亿劫轮回地狱报。
Those who steal from temples will be reborn in Hells for kalpas and kalpas.
若遇污梵诬僧者，说永在畜生报。
Monks and nuns guilty of sexual misconduct will be reborn as animals endlessly. Also the laity will be included in this punishment if they are well instructed in the precepts but violate them.
若遇汤火斩斫伤生者，说轮回递偿报。
Those beings who harm people with boiling water, fire, cutting or otherwise injuring them will, in their next life, receive the same treatment.
若遇破戒犯斋者，说禽兽饥饿报。
Those who encourage others to break the precepts shall be reborn as animals- always suffering from hunger.
若遇非理毁用者，说所求阙绝报。
Those who are guilty of stupid extravagance will never get their wishes fulfilled.
若遇吾我贡高者，说卑使下贱报。
Those who are proud and look down on others will have low births.
若遇两舌斗乱者，说无舌百舌报。
Gossips and tale-bearers will be reborn without tongues or else with one hundred tongues.
若遇邪见者，说边地受生报。
Those who cling to wrong views will be reborn in uncivilised places and endure suffering.
《地藏菩萨本愿经》经文(阎浮众生业感品第四)
Chapter Four: Evil Actions and Retributions of Human Beings of the Samsara World
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