During the so called Ghosts' Festival, many Chinese believe that the Hell Gates stay open for the entire seventh lunar month to allow departed spirits of man (Kuei) to return and roam the Earth. Since the Kuei wander along the streets to visit places, they are called ‘Street Spirits’ (Kai Shen). At night time, believers come out from their houses and by the roadside, pray and make offerings of food and burn 'hell money' to these spirits. There will be hosting of Chinese operas, song and dance in open areas or on designated roads in the suburbs for people and Kuei to mingle and enjoy the shows. Altars will be set up nearby for those who want to pray and make offerings to the ‘Street Spirits’. On the 14th day of the seventh month or thereabouts these shows will end and a feast laid out for believers and the Kuei. At this feast, donors will bid for goods or food to cover costs of the feast with any remaining balance donated to charities. The winning bidders feel happy and believe they will receive blessings and protection from these spirits. (National Geographic also covered such events in both Hong Kong and Singapore not too long ago.)
Yesterday, my wife called to say that her company recently made a winning bid of USD 2,100 for a 25 kilo bag of rice at such an event. And that the general manager has decided to distribute the rice in small packets to each office employee. She was given a packet and asked whether she should bring the rice home adding it will bring good luck for those who cooked and ate it. No, I said and told her to either return or give the rice to whoever wants the good luck.
Today, while browsing through the Analects, I came across this long forgotten line by Confucius (who seldom talked about the spirit world) where he spoke about ancestors’ worship and on any other practice:
“For a man to sacrifice to a spirit which does not belong to him is flattery.” “To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage.” (2. 24)
Therefore, one may not be wrong to reject the rice which could have been offered to the ‘Street Spirits’ beforehand?
On a related note, ancestors’ worship is an ancient Chinese practice recorded in the Book of History. Nowadays, a separate altar from that reserved for Daoist Deities or Buddhas, is set up for prayers and offerings by the living to their ancestors. Although some modern Chinese or youth may not understand the significance of ancestors’ worship, it may be worthwhile to note that when a child is unexplainably ill and suffers from chronic fever which remains high even after seeing a few doctors and taking prescribed medicine; it may be time to turn to the ancestors.
A sincere plea from the parent(s) at the ancestors’ altar for help and protection of their child and descendant had proven to work on two separate occasions where one had the opportunity to advise on. Although my experience and knowledge remains very limited, the important thing is, it worked. After all, which parents or grandparents do not care about their children or grandchildren? Similarly the ancestors will also be concerned about their progeny. Whether you are believer or not, it will only take some of your time and a simple plea from the heart to sincerely seek such help for your child. And I verily believe it is harmless to ask for help from our ancestors.
Perhaps you have received similar help from your ancestors and would like to share some of your experiences here with readers and me?
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