Recommendation: Message from the Feast Master: Don't let ghosts live in your heart.
Why are people afraid of ghosts?
The reason is fear of the unknown,
Fear of endangering one's life;
I have a vague understanding of ghosts and am afraid.
Try to adjust your fearful thoughts and behaviors,
Don't scare yourself, you know what you are afraid of is the ghost in your heart.
A young man asked me, "I don't know what happened." I am not only afraid of ghosts when I sleep at night, but also when I am alone. " I asked him, what is the reason for being afraid of ghosts? He replied, "I don't know. I have never really seen a ghost. "
In fact, why are people afraid of ghosts? The reason is nothing more than that people are often afraid of the unknown and are afraid of endangering their own safety; Therefore, people are not afraid of ghosts, but they are actually afraid of death. However, if a ghost really appears in front of you, it may not be terrible, because most people are afraid of ghosts subjectively because they are not clear about ghosts. After a long time, if you don't adjust your fearful thoughts and behaviors, you will become a habitual ghost, and you will be afraid of ghosts.
Correct attitude and face your fears honestly.
There used to be a temple on the second floor, but no one heard the sound in the room. Everyone said it was haunted, and then the abbot simply went upstairs to sleep by himself. At midnight, the voice came again. No matter what method the abbot uses, ghosts just don't appear. Finally, he opened the window and realized that the so-called "ghost" was just a conversation between the owner and the guests of the noodle shop on the street. From this example, we can see that when people encounter ghosts, they must first find them, and then they are afraid. They are often just suspicious, and there is no ghost.
If fear of ghosts has become a habit, we should first observe our own thoughts, practice quitting this habit, and learn to face our fears, be firm and confident, and keep mindfulness. In fact, people have a sense of terror, which is related to their own thoughts. When you are not afraid, that realm disappears. The more afraid you are, the more exams you will have. Therefore, every time you are afraid, you should first check why you are afraid of ghosts. Who's afraid of ghosts? If you can face your fears, have buddhas and bodhisattvas in your heart, and believe that no matter what happens to you, your heart will not be affected, then you can let go of your fears and gradually get rid of your fear of ghosts.
Are ghosts scary? As long as you don't cling to him, it's not terrible at all, and you don't need to exclude him. Always keep mindfulness, thinking, I'm not trying to please ghosts and gods, but to help them. For example, I read Amitabha at night, but I don't use Amitabha as a weapon to deal with ghosts with fear and disgust. Instead, I wish him a clean and stable Buddha name in my heart, hoping to survive in the pure land of Buddhism as soon as possible. In addition, we should understand that all people and things in this world are temporary, and karma is born together. Just as someone encounters bad luck, it is also a combination of karma, and there must be a time when karma is scattered; As long as you have the intention to help ghosts and the Buddhist concept of karma, you will naturally not be worried and afraid.
In a good way, always be mindful.
I have an American disciple. Every night, I hear gunshots coming from the empty room, and then I sigh. He learned from his neighbors that the previous owner died because of his wife's affair, and ghosts appeared from time to time after his death. Knowing this, my apprentice recited the Heart Sutra in his room, wishing him a quick reincarnation. Soon, there were no more gunshots and sighs.
If you really encounter a ghost and feel uneasy, you might as well recite more scriptures, which will not only calm your mind, but also help the ghosts around you. For example, the Heart Sutra and the Diamond Sutra in Buddhist scriptures teach people to be sincere and persistent, which can inspire ghosts, while reciting the Amitabha Sutra will make ghosts feel the extraordinary victory in the bliss world and naturally want to go to the west; As long as people have compassion when chanting Buddhism, ghosts can feel the power of Buddhism and reach the place where they should go.
However, some people feel unwell after attending the funeral and think that they have been "washed away" by ghosts. This is actually a wrong idea. Since I became a monk, I have been full of repentance and have been with the dead at home. Because I am mindful, I have never been washed away. Therefore, when attending the funeral, we should think of the deceased as a Buddha and Bodhisattva. To recite the Buddha is to send the Buddha to the West, and to face it with a healthy attitude. Naturally, it will not be hasty, but it will be auspicious.
Such a healthy attitude should also be applied to practice. When some people meditate alone at night, there is often a sense of terror behind them, and they are suspicious and afraid to meditate again. This is not right. Meditation is to get rid of people's persistence. Even if there is a ghost, we should invite him to meditate and practice together, instead of giving up practice in fear. When people have confidence and mindfulness, they will not be afraid of ghosts at any time and any place.
Most people are afraid of ghosts, but as far as Buddhism is concerned, having ghosts in their hearts is even more terrible. Ghosts in the heart are actually inner troubles and delusions, as well as thoughts, gestures and dialogues that do not meet human standards; Therefore, to live in the world, we should return to the position of human beings from the deviation point of ghosts, and demand that we are human beings, and we cannot be said, "You have ghosts in your heart!" "You must return to the earth and never become a ghost before you die. Therefore, it is a kind of practice for people to guide their deviant personality, treat all people from the standpoint of human beings and help all sentient beings.