It's true that burning these offerings is not part of the Buddhism practice. In fact, I feel that the misconception lies in years of influence by traditional beliefs, customs, and Taoism. Even though my B.C. registers myself as a Buddhist, I am by practice a Taoist. And even Taoism has evolved over the years.
I do question the burning of offerings at times ... but then again I have had my own share of experiences that led me to believe there is an unexplained phenomena going on. I do not agree with it being related to time-travel. I don't know what it is, but I remember seeing my relatives write certain Chinese chants on the paper offerings before burning them. They even include the names of the deceased, date/time of deceased, and all those other stuff (kinda like a postal system to hell LOL).
WHen my grandmother passed away, we did the same thing. During her one-year death anniversary, we had prayers again and what not. At that time, my youngest cousin who was only 2 years old did something really impossible ... speak in fluent Mandarin. We were just sitting in the living room just resting and chatting. I believe she was playing around somewhere in the house. But she came up to us, and said in a clear, pronounced, full sentence, "I am feeling very cold and I don't have any clothes to wear." In a spilt second, my cousin returned to her own self. I don't think she realized anything at all.
To believe or not to believe? I do not have the answer as well.
yowchuan
· 1 year ago
Hi JJ,
Yeah, I do believe that there are many things logic and science can hardly explain.
However, these supernatural events still does not give a very convincing and valid reason to continue burning religious paraphernelias at the expenses of the Amazon forest.
Imagine the following conversation:
Son: Ah Pahhh... I am burning you this briefcase containing 10 billion worth of Hell Bank Notes. Please use them wisely and try not to buy too much cigarettes like you did when you were alive...
Dead Father: Ah Zhai ahhh... I cannot use the money you burnt me la...The Bank here says your currency not valid leh...
All Comments
I do question the burning of offerings at times ... but then again I have had my own share of experiences that led me to believe there is an unexplained phenomena going on. I do not agree with it being related to time-travel. I don't know what it is, but I remember seeing my relatives write certain Chinese chants on the paper offerings before burning them. They even include the names of the deceased, date/time of deceased, and all those other stuff (kinda like a postal system to hell LOL).
WHen my grandmother passed away, we did the same thing. During her one-year death anniversary, we had prayers again and what not. At that time, my youngest cousin who was only 2 years old did something really impossible ... speak in fluent Mandarin. We were just sitting in the living room just resting and chatting. I believe she was playing around somewhere in the house. But she came up to us, and said in a clear, pronounced, full sentence, "I am feeling very cold and I don't have any clothes to wear." In a spilt second, my cousin returned to her own self. I don't think she realized anything at all.
To believe or not to believe? I do not have the answer as well.
Yeah, I do believe that there are many things logic and science can hardly explain.
However, these supernatural events still does not give a very convincing and valid reason to continue burning religious paraphernelias at the expenses of the Amazon forest.
Imagine the following conversation:
Son: Ah Pahhh... I am burning you this briefcase containing 10 billion worth of Hell Bank Notes. Please use them wisely and try not to buy too much cigarettes like you did when you were alive...
Dead Father: Ah Zhai ahhh... I cannot use the money you burnt me la...The Bank here says your currency not valid leh...