The Hungry Ghost Festival starts tomorrow. For those who believe in the existence of hungry ghosts, you may be interested to know that the origin of the Hungry Ghost Festival may have its roots in Buddhism as illustrated by this sutta below. But in Buddhism, hungry ghosts are different from hell beings.
Janussonin Sutta: On Offerings to the Dead
translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Then Janussonin the brahman went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One, "Master Gotama, you know that we brahmans give gifts, make offerings, [saying,] 'May this gift accrue to our dead relatives. May our dead relatives partake of this gift.' Now, Master Gotama, does that gift accrue to our dead relatives? Do our dead relatives partake of that gift?"
"In possible places, brahman, it accrues to them, but not in impossible places."
"And which, Master Gotama, are the possible places? Which are the impossible places?"
...
"Then there is the case where a certain person takes life, takes what is not given, engages in sensual misconduct, engages in false speech, engages in divisive speech, engages in abusive speech, engages in idle chatter, is covetous, bears ill will, and has wrong views. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the realms of the hungry shades. He lives there, he remains there, by means of whatever is the food of hungry shades. He lives there, he remains that, by means of whatever his friends or relatives give in dedication to him. This is the possible place for that gift to accrue to one staying there.
"But, Master Gotama, if that dead relative does not reappear in that possible place, who partakes of that gift?"
"Other dead relatives, brahman, who have reappeared in that possible place."
"But, Master Gotama, if that dead relative does not reappear in that possible place, and other dead relatives have not reappeared in that possible place, then who partakes of that gift?"
"It's impossible, brahman, it cannot be, that over this long time that possible place is devoid of one's dead relatives. [1] But at any rate, the donor does not go without reward.
It's actually quite appropriate that we call them 'good brothers' or '好兄弟'.
Janussonin Sutta: On Offerings to the Dead
translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Then Janussonin the brahman went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to the Blessed One, "Master Gotama, you know that we brahmans give gifts, make offerings, [saying,] 'May this gift accrue to our dead relatives. May our dead relatives partake of this gift.' Now, Master Gotama, does that gift accrue to our dead relatives? Do our dead relatives partake of that gift?"
"In possible places, brahman, it accrues to them, but not in impossible places."
"And which, Master Gotama, are the possible places? Which are the impossible places?"
...
"Then there is the case where a certain person takes life, takes what is not given, engages in sensual misconduct, engages in false speech, engages in divisive speech, engages in abusive speech, engages in idle chatter, is covetous, bears ill will, and has wrong views. With the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the realms of the hungry shades. He lives there, he remains there, by means of whatever is the food of hungry shades. He lives there, he remains that, by means of whatever his friends or relatives give in dedication to him. This is the possible place for that gift to accrue to one staying there.
"But, Master Gotama, if that dead relative does not reappear in that possible place, who partakes of that gift?"
"Other dead relatives, brahman, who have reappeared in that possible place."
"But, Master Gotama, if that dead relative does not reappear in that possible place, and other dead relatives have not reappeared in that possible place, then who partakes of that gift?"
"It's impossible, brahman, it cannot be, that over this long time that possible place is devoid of one's dead relatives. [1] But at any rate, the donor does not go without reward.
It's actually quite appropriate that we call them 'good brothers' or '好兄弟'.
