June 12, 2010
Posted by in Ghosts and Hauntings | 7.02pm | 319 views
I posted regarding ‘psychic kids’ and Patricia posed some interesting questions which I have answered. With respect to Patricia, I am posting it here as it will benefit others. The actual blog post is: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/06/?p=4416
From Patricia:
Tashi delek dear Tsem Tulku!
Thank you very much for posting this!
I have a question to you: As it is said that the bardo takes in general around 49 days and after that comes the new rebirth. What is it than that is left of the person who have died? I mean for instance: a psychic women`s husband died 5 years ago, but still she can have contact to him; he is still around her.
I’ve heard once even some people perceive a ghost, let´s say their own relative who have died, it is actually not anymore their relative but just “la-energy” of the dead person which remained and in truth the relative actually already got a new rebirth. This la energy can stay for 7 generation. This is even more scary to me, because it is just energy, actually not the dead person`s mind anymore, but who can still communicate and help the living people. Sorry but I do not really understand that, how this can be possible. Can you please tell us something about this?
Or did I got a wrong information and it is more like this: that a person who died but can be perceived by humans as a ghost, actually had a rebirth in the realm of spirits?Or did there something go wrong, like their rebirth did not happen because they are trapped within the bardo /cannot go into “the light” because of a trauma or whatever?
How many types of spirits are existing according buddhism, do they all belong to the class of hungry ghosts?
Best wishes,
Patricia
My answer:
My Dear Patricia,
Your questions require complex answers, but I will be brief and sincerely hope it helps you.
- Generally there are many types of hungry ghosts or just ghosts. They travel at the speed of thought and also can live hundreds of years almost like some sort of mini titan. So it is possible for people of many generations to see the same being after many generations. Even seven or eight generations and so on.
- The amount of beings existing in the realm of spirits/ghost far far far exceeds that of humans. Their population is huge.
- Spirits have various personalities just like animals and humans. You can generalize them. Like people from the North will be generally taller than of the South. That is very general with many exceptions of course.
- You have the bitter, nasty, harmless, weak, powerful, quiet, noisy, dysfunctional, sneaky, kind, helpful ghosts and with many more personalities. Because ghosts have the ability to travel superfast they have a sort of clairvoyance. They can reak havoc with their clairvoyance because it is limited and hence can give advice that turns out wrong in the long run. But seemingly the advice is ok in the short run with or without knowing it from their side.
- The ghosts can change shapes and forms to appear to you in the form you find comfortable to communicate with you or to frighten you. They wish to communicate for many reasons such as loneliness, anger, expressing their sorrows, or some wish to assist in their own way for something in return.
- Some spirits can even appear to the untrained as Tara!!! Zong Rinpoche told us, some appear as Tara to people!!! So we have to be extremely careful when dealing with them. Better not to deal with them but be aware of their presence.
- To elicit favours from them like asking for lottery number, eliminating an enemy, or getting information from them could be dangerous in the long run depending on their characters. Should be avoided. Being careful to not simply do binding rituals or order them here or there. They can get you back in a way you least suspect. Better to leave them alone.
- Basically if they are in this form, it does not arise from positive karma. So the results cannot be generally positive.
- If they are in the ghost realm, something definitely went wrong. To take rebirth in that realm generally requires one’s mind to have extreme great attachment to a place, person, thing, idea or the such. That attachment is what binds them to their situation until karma is ‘finished’. When they go into the light, it could be another realm, or rebirth. It is not going into a ‘heaven’ as we know it.
- If there are psychics or people who can perceive these beings it is important to do protection and blessing prayers daily if we have to contact or see them. If seeing them is beyond our control, then daily protection would be good. It would bless the person seeing them and bless the ghosts also. Ghosts are moved by altruism or great compassion emanating from a being. Some Practices good to do daily are any of the below:
- Tsongkapa
- Singdongma
- Protectors such as Setrap, Four Faced Mahakala, Pelden Hlamo
- Ekazati
- Vajrapani
- Black Manjushri
These practices would bless the person, bless the environment and bless the spirits contacted/seen.
I hope the above helps you.
For further questions re the practices you may contact Beng Kooi.
I wish you well,
Tsem Tulku
From Fang:
Dear Rinpoche, a few questions if I may…
With the influences of media and upbringing, we are conditioned to fear what/who we do not understand. is there any reason we should fear these entities?
My answer:
Yes, there are cases that you will fear these beings such as:
- If you have offended them in any way, shape or form.
- Taken anything from them.
- Ask them for help and then later ignored them.
- They gave help and you are suppose to give them something in return and you didn’t.
- If someone has cursed you or send magic to you using them.
- Harming a person they are close to or ‘protecting’. These are just some examples people ‘might’ fear them or have experienced disturbances.
- But it would be good to put that fear into actual results for example by concentrating on intense Setrap practice which will bring intense benefits on so many levels not just pacifying the disturbances or the objects of your fear.
And if we do, should we learn to suppress the feeling of fear. by suppressing the fear, should we then substitute it with compassion and kindness?
- We should apologize to them from our hearts and not do it again.
- Do what we have promised once and for all unless totally impossible but don’t break the law doing so.
- If we have done none of the above 6 points except number 5, then we don’t need to fear or put that fear in remedial actions such as Tsongkapa or Setrap practice.
- Generate great pity for the state they are born in without being condescending but genuine pity and wish them well.
- Generating great compassion towards them will help a lot and do practices such as Tsongkapa and Setrap. Dedicate the merits of that practice to them and all beings who suffer, and be genuine in it. They will feel it.
- You can’t suppress fear or pretend you don’t feel it. But remember they are suffering much more than you from loneliness, cold, reliving tragedies/disappointments, hunger, thirst and great attachments. If you look at a dog who’s on the streets, starving, hurt and when you go near to feed, bite you, you don’t feel anger. But even more compassion for what has been done to the poor dog. Same example for spirits. Some are nasty and harmful because they have been given a lot of pain. They are in pain and deserve your pity not so much fear.
When harmed by what we believe to be a spirit/ghost… what should we do, where do we go? i have personally experienced a ‘confrontation’ of sort with an entity and after going to different practitioners who takes trance, i eventually found one who could help me. (this happened prior to my knowing of Kechara).
My answer:
- Kechara is not the only place that can help. Many places can help. But Kechara is qualified to help when necessary.
- As to what to do, this will take up much more space to explain. For now, I have a book, please refer to that and read it thoroughly. It will help a lot. The book is called ‘Protection from Black Magic and Spirits’. Please direct people to that book would help a lot.
- In general, practicing the 8 verses of Thought Transformation, Tsongkapa Guru Yoga then capped off with Setrap would be very very very good for general disturbances. More ferocious disturbances would require variations of the above or certain rituals. If you do the above three practices very well and daily, you will be ok. Really. Sometimes annoyingly these spirits can come get us later, years later, when we are at a low point. They watch. But doing these practices would be a great protection, blessing yourself and ‘them’. By Blessing them, they eventually go away.
Why do some advice from ‘deities’ work and some don’t. it doesn’t mean that they are fake, i am sure because; they have managed to help others in the past.
My answer:
- The level of the deities are important. The level of the deities that are being used to nullify whatever is disturbing you is very important.
- How long the disturbance has been with you. If it has been a very long time, then it will not have instant effect. It will take time. Like if you see the best doctor in the whole world, but your disease is very old, it will take time.
- Affinity.
- Karmic disposition of the person who needs help. Sometimes the karma is so heavy, the helping deity cannot help you.
These are some of the possible reasons.
In Mahayana, i was advised to learn and recite the Great Compassion Mantra (大悲咒) when i feel uneasy in certain situations. is there a mantra in Vajrayana practice that is similar? would reciting Lama Tsongkhapa’s Migtsema help? or would Setrap? Green Tara?
My answer:
- Definitely doing the Great Compassion Mantra, Tsongkapa’s migtseyma, Setrap and Green Tara would help. It depends on your affinity to which Deity and your karma.
- For some Green Tara would be and some not. It is not Green Tara’s fault, it is the affinity of the person.
- But for sure all these above practices are for much higher purposes, so protection for spirits is a minor side benefit.
- We should engage in these practices for development of wisdom, compassion, skilful means, letting go of attachments, anger and the like.
Thank you for your time and kind sharing, Rinpoche 
Dear Fang,
I hope the above helps you.
Much care,
Tsem Tulku
Dear Rinpoche, a few questions if i may…
- with the influences of media and upbringing, we are conditioned to fear what/who we do not understand. is there any reason we should fear these entities? and if we do, should we learn to suppress the feeling of fear. by suppressing the fear, should we then substitute it with compassion and kindness?
- when harmed by what we believe to be a spirit/ghost… what should we do, where do we go? i have personally experienced a ‘confrontation’ of sort with an entity and after going to different practitioners who takes trance, i eventually found one who could help me. (this happened prior to my knowing of Kechara). why do some advice from ‘dieties’ work and some don’t. it doesn’t mean that they are fake, i am sure because; they have managed to help others in the past.
- in Mahayana, i was advised to learn and recite the Great Compassion Mantra (大悲咒) when i feel uneasy in certain situations. is there a mantra in Vajrayana practice that is similar? would reciting Lama Tsongkhapa’s Migtsema help? or would Setrap? Green Tara?
thank you for your time and kind sharing, Rinpoche
rest man do your best work after now
fang said…
Dear Rinpoche, a few questions if i may…
- with the influences of media and upbringing, we are conditioned to fear what/who we do not understand. is there any reason we should fear these entities?
Yes, there are cases that you will fear these beings such as:
1. If you have offended them in any way, shape or form.
2. Taken anything from them.
3. Ask them for help and then later ignored them.
4. They gave help and you are suppose to give them something in return and you didn’t .
5. If someone has cursed you or send magic to you using them.
6. Harming a person they are close to or ‘protecting’.
These are just some examples people ‘might’ fear them or have experienced disturbances.
And if we do, should we learn to suppress the feeling of fear. by suppressing the fear, should we then substitute it with compassion and kindness?
1. We should apologize to them from our hearts and not do it again.
2. Do what we have promised once and for all unless totally impossible but don’t break the law doing so.
3. If we have done none of the above 6 points except number 5, then we don’t need to fear or put that fear in remedial actions such as Tsongkapa or Setrap practice.
4. Generate great pity for the state they are born in without being condescending but genuine pity and wish them well.
5. Generating great compassion towards them will help a lot and do practices such as Tsongkapa and Setrap. Dedicate the merits of that practice to them and all beings who suffer, and be genuine in it. They will feel it.
6. You can’t suppress fear or pretend you don’t feel it. But remember they are suffering much more than you from loneliness, cold, reliving tragedies/disappointments, hunger, thirst and great attachments. If you look at a dog who’s on the streets, starving, hurt and when you go near to feed, bite you, you don’t feel anger. But even more compassion for what has been done to the poor dog. Same example for spirits. Some are nasty and harmful because they have been given a lot of pain. They are in pain and deserve your pity not so much fear.
- When harmed by what we believe to be a spirit/ghost… what should we do, where do we go? i have personally experienced a ‘confrontation’ of sort with an entity and after going to different practitioners who takes trance, i eventually found one who could help me. (this happened prior to my knowing of Kechara).
1. Kechara is not the only place that can help. Many places can help. But Kechara is qualified to help when necessary.
2. As to what to do, this will take up much more space to explain. For now, I have a book, please refer to that and read it thoroughly. It will help a lot. The book is called ‘Protection from Black Magic and Spirits’. Please direct people to that book would help a lot.
3. In general, practicing the 8 verses of Thought Transformation, Tsongkapa Guru Yoga then capped off with Setrap would be very very very good for general disturbances. More ferocious disturbances would require variations of the above or certain rituals. If you do the above three practices very well and daily, you will be ok. Really. Sometimes annoyingly these spirits can come get us later, years later, when we are at a low point. They watch. But doing these practices would be a great protection, blessing yourself and ‘them’. By Blessing them, they eventually go away.
Why do some advice from ‘deities’ work and some don’t. it doesn’t mean that they are fake, i am sure because; they have managed to help others in the past.
1. The level of the deities are important. The level of the deities that are being used to nullify whatever is disturbing you is very important.
2. How long the disturbance has been with you. If it has been a very long time, then it will not have instant effect. It will take time. Like if you see the best doctor in the whole world, but your disease is very old, it will take time.
3. Affinity.
4. Karmic disposition of the person who needs help. Sometimes the karma is so heavy, the helping deity cannot help you.
These are some of the possible reasons.
- In Mahayana, i was advised to learn and recite the Great Compassion Mantra (大悲咒) when i feel uneasy in certain situations. is there a mantra in Vajrayana practice that is similar? would reciting Lama Tsongkhapa’s Migtsema help? or would Setrap? Green Tara?
1. Definitely doing the Great Compassion Mantra, Tsongkapa’s migtseyma, Setrap and Green Tara would help. It depends on your affinity to which Deity and your karma.
2. For some Green Tara would be and some not. It is not Green Tara’s fault, it is the affinity of the person.
3. But for sure all these above practices are for much higher purposes, so protection for spirits is a minor side benefit.
4. We should engage in these practices for development of wisdom, compassion, skilful means, letting go of attachments, anger and the like.
thank you for your time and kind sharing, Rinpoche
Dear Fang,
I hope the above helps you. Much care, Tsem Tulku
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing with us these hard-to-find details.
A question that i’ve been pondering since long time has just flashed back to my mind, although it’s not directly about ghost, but to certain extent is similar …
- while Dharma is powerful enough in the universe (无量无边), why is that Evil can still exist in parallel with Buddha or Heaven realm, sometimes even much more powerful than Dharma ?
i’m sorry if this question sounds noob.. But i wish Rinpoche could kindly shed some light.. Thx a lot.
Thank you very much, Rinpoche
I will try get a copy of the book Rinpoche suggested and read more on the topic.
Dear Rinpoche,
Crystals and divination tools (pendulum, tarot cards, etc.) connect with spirits/ghosts or with a different entity?
should we avoid using them for being dangerous, waste of time…?
On the other hand, I have highly appreciated your teachings available on the web.
THANK YOU.
Dear Dechen Chotso,
“Crystals and divination tools (pendulum, tarot cards, etc.) connect with spirits/ghosts or with a different entity? should we avoid using them for being dangerous, waste of time…?”"
What you connect with is dependent on a few factors:
1. The abilities/power/ or attainments if it applies to the person using these tools to call upon a ethereal being. If the person calling them through these tools are not prepared or know how to handle them, it could go out of hand. If you invite a spirit no matter how nice they seem at first, can harm you later on. Or they might want you to return their help in ways you can’t fulfill, then they can become angered. Crystals and other divination tools should be avoided as much as possible. They might bring ‘quick’ results in communication with something not physical, but there is a price to be payed usually. I would not advise.
2. What beings are available when you are summoning them.
3. The nature, level and character of the being being summoned. They could be powerful, weak, nasty, helpful, playful or even tricky. It is hard to tell their motives.
You have to be careful, avoid and not contact them. It is not a game or for quick gains. There are no quick gains when it comes to these beings. Some like to contact them out of ego, to look powerful, to win respect from others, that is also very dangerous. Because if the spirit gets offended and gets you, you will look very silly and not impressive at all.
Some wish quick answers for difficult problems, but asking these type of beings will not really solve the problem for long term.
I offer you my good wishes,
Tsem Tulku
Thank you very much Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche,
Would Rinpoche kindly shed some light on my previous question above ?
Thank you very much ..
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for the teaching on ghosts. Many people fear ghosts and yet curious about them. Children are fascinated by ghost stories.
Manjushri Kids Class will have a class on ghost. Teacher Gim Lee will explain the “unknown” to the children based on Rinpoche’s teaching and most importantly we will teach the children to have compassion instead of aversion and fear for these unfortunate beings.
Love & prayers,yf
If hungry ghosts cannot eat food, why do we offer food to them during hungry ghost season?
Keng Hwa
If people from the same family dies, when they turn into ghosts, will they reunite as a family or be seperated for life?
With folded hands,
Melissa
Dear H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche,
Why do people see ghosts? Do they have a specific reason in life to see them?
When you say that they are not positive is that in general? Can Lamas reincarnate into spirits? If so, what is their purpose? Can they benefit us in that state?
An ocean of prayers and folded hands,
Sean Wang Xian-An
Thank you for your tip on ghost. XD
AdrianC
Dear Rinpoche,
Can ghosts kill us? If they can, how do they kill us?
Do ghosts give birth to ghost’ babies? Can ghost babies grow up?
Teacher Gimlee give me this idea.. :p
Keng Boon
Dear Rinpoche,
Dear Rinpoche,
There are some humans whom experience the similiar sufferings to that of a hungry ghost. Are they considered to be in the hungry ghost realm?
With folded hands and respect,
Bradley
Dear Venarable Rinpoche,
In which state of karma we will be reborn as a ghost or a hungry ghost?
With sincerity and folded hands,
Alex Yeoh
Dear Rinpoche
Thanks for this post on ghosts. I definitely believe in their existence after my real encounter during my teen… due to curiousity a group of us in students house have foolishly meddled with them in a game called ‘Spirit of the coin’. After that night a few of us were disturbed by spirits especially while we’re sleeping..
Anyway, in the class today I showed them this video to excite them..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c54NXuyr2Ds
The kids were encourage to ask questions… Oops… I hope Rinpoche will not be too tired to answer all their questions…
Thank you Rinpoche for your patience and your kindness…
With folded hands, Gimlee
Two reasons:
1. When they see the food, they feel you care. So it gives their minds temporary relief.
2. They cannot eat but they can smell it and the smell temporarily ‘fills’ them up.
Tsem Tulku
Dear Gimlee,
The object of the classes is not to have more questions directed. You should read, encourage research, encourage answers among yourselves. If you just read and ask and read and ask, then you are promoting a class of kids who wish to be spoon fed. That is not learning.
Encourage research, and finding answers on your own and posting questions with answers to share with the world. Help the kids to learn by research and effort.
Tsem Tulku
Dear Venerable Rinpoche ,
Wishing you a good day. An interesting story on The Star today. For your reading.
Sunday June 27, 2010
Close encounter with spirits and a headless woman
THE older the structure, the more likely it is to be haunted. Given the chequered history of Pudu Prison – which dates back to 1895 – you can be sure it has more than its fair share of ghostly tales.
Abu Bakar Juah says it was common to hear things at night – footsteps where no one was supposed to be, chains rattling, and even hearing someone or something taking a bath when everyone is locked in.
“We normally shout out loud that we are merely trying to make a living and tell whatever that’s out there to leave us alone,” he says.
Haji Aziz Haji Idris tells of an encounter while on duty at one of the guard towers when he was still a young officer.
“It was shortly after midnight and I was on night duty with another person when I saw an officer approaching. As we had been trained, I banged my rifle on the floor and shouted out ‘Everything all right, sir!”
Aziz says the figure said nothing but raised his hand, and then suddenly disappeared.
He also remembers one particular bunk in the warder’s dormitory which everyone tried to avoid.
“Anyone who slept there would be sure to feel an unseen force pressing down on his chest. They may try to shout or move but will be helpless to do anything,” he says, adding that some would rather sleep on the floor than use the bunk.
Abu Bakar also recalls a weird phenomenon – a ball of fire the size of a football that suddenly appeared and rolled out of sight.
“It happened every once in a while, and in cycles. Everyone would be talking about it for a while,” he says.
But the scariest tale is that of a recurring apparition of a woman. Aziz believes it was the ghost of a woman who was hanged there.
“She had tried to kill herself previously by slitting her throat. She survived but before she was fully recovered, the execution order came,” he says.
“She was brought to the execution chamber and hanged – but because of the injury, her head was literally torn off. It was a gruesome death and that is the ghost that many people have seen.”
He recalls an encounter with this apparition.
“I was on duty at Block D, where death row is located, and directly above the execution chamber is a huge anchor stone.
“Out of the corner of my eye I saw a figure sitting on this stone. Malays believe ghosts’ feet do not touch the ground, and when I bent over to look, the figure disappeared,” he says.
But a fellow officer’s encounter was even more shocking.
“Once, a police officer was interviewing prisoners and it was getting late. However, he said that he could interview one more, and I went down to bring another one.
“As he was filling in some forms he saw a figure sitting down. Thinking it was another prisoner he looked up, only to see a headless woman with blood flowing down her chest. The officer ran down the stairs as fast as he could,” he says.
Aziz believes Pudu Prison is a very “dirty” place and in some places is a giant graveyard.
“During World War II, the British buried Japanese soldiers there, and when the Japanese took over, they buried the British there.
“The ghosts here are real,” says Aziz.
Yours Sincerely ,
Liew Chee Khoi.
(the above was emailed to me, I thought I’d share it)
Dearest Rinpoche
The person that has a ‘third eye’,is that good or bad?
Why do some people see ghosts but some can’t?
Love
Beatrix Ooi
If you use the 3rd eye for good things then it is good. If you use it to take advantage of people, then it is not good.
If you have that ability, what your motivation behind it’s usage makes it good or negative.
It’s always the motivation that is of utmost importance.
Tsem Tulku
Dear Skywalker
I will attempt to answer your question the best I can.
Dharma, defined as “right conduct, right view” as taught by Buddha is powerful. It is powerful because it works. It worked to set Prince Siddharta free of samsara, resulting in him achieving total liberation, Buddhahood or Enlightenment. On this basis, Dharma is proven to be powerful because it is not a theory waiting to be tested to see if it works. To start out with, it worked then, it was written and presented to us as a guideline/path to follow.
Dharma is powerful and works when we APPLY it in our lives, that’s how our negativity which manifests as “evil” can be rid off.
Evil may be scary, hurtful, damaging, but it does not mean it’s more powerful than Dharma. Why? Any negativity or evilness can be changed due to the law of impermanence. Harmful ghosts, spirits and our own negativity can be changed when Dharma is applied.
Example: MR EVIL can lose its powers to become MR GOOD. But MR BUDDHA is ULTIMATE GOOD and his qualities cannot degenerate into MR EVIL. On this logic, is MR BUDDHA more powerful of MR EVIL?
Dear Melissa
And I did…I had many nights of dinner which comprised of DONUTS. It made me happy…but I’d be DEAD by now if I had continued eating donuts for dinner every night. If I had died, perhaps as a ghost I may be lingering over the donut shop because of my attachment to donuts! Maybe not,…as Rinpoche taught us, our next rebirth will depend on what our mental state is like at the point of death to determine where we go next. Anything could spring up in our minds at that point…
I will attempt to answer your question:
Who we are with is due to our uncontrolled karma..which is the result of what we have done in the past. What we do now will affect what comes next. In short, this is what Karma is like.. Most if not all of us live our lives based on what we like, prefers, what we find pleasant and pleasurable..that’s how we get happiness. Often times, what we do to make us happy will turn out to harm us in the long run. Why? because we don’t know better (ignorant)
When I was young , ok..not that young (about 18 years old), i could just eat donuts for dinner! I know…ain’t i disgusting!
So to answer your question there’s no guarantee that if a family member dies and turn into a ghost if he/she will reunite or be separated for life. It depends on what he has done, what he’s attached to… Even if he lingers around the family as a ghost, he will not be able to receive the love and care as how he used to when he was alive as a human. Memories will fade. We will not know ourselves as how we know now…
So it is important to learn and apply dharma into our lives and to help everyone. We never know,…some stranger could have been our family member from a previous life. It’s stated in the teachings that everyone at some point had been our mother.
You are a real sweet kid, always helping in the ladrang, cleaning the aviary…I know you will grow up to be a wonderful person, taking care of your mom, your family, friends and contributing in Kechara.
best wishes
susan
Terima Kasih Rinpoche!
“Some spirits can even appear to the untrained as Tara!!! Zong Rinpoche told us, some appear as Tara to people!!! So we have to be extremely careful when dealing with them. Better not to deal with them but be aware of their presence.”
This is a good and important point raised by Rinpoche and yet ignored by many as most are taken in by the emotional dazzle that these beings can perform as counterfeit.
I recall reading in the Shurangama Sutra on the 50 Demon Skandha States Chapter, it has a similar warning ringtone to caution people to beware and avoid these common pitfalls.
Can ghost kill us? No – but they can harm us.
Do ghosts give birth to ghost babies? They adopt ghost babies.
Can ghost babies grow up? No they do not eat. That is why they are called hungry ghosts.
There are some humans who experience the similar sufferings to that of a hungry ghost.
Examples of these are: a rich person lying down on a bed with a tube stuck into his throat feeding him or people dying from hunger in certain parts of Africa. These are caused by previous lives karma.
So how does a human become a hungry ghost in their next life?
They are those who kept on taking and taking from other and never giving back. Or those that stole food from the sangha. It is miserliness.
It is pretty freaky to get a confirmation that ghosts are for real. Simultaneously, it is very mind changing to read Rinpoche’s way of viewing these beings.
From the way Rinpoche explain about ghosts, my mind begins to look at them like a different “species” that exist along with us. Animals like dogs, cats, rabbits etc. look very different from us and behave very differently too. However, we can accept them because our eyes, or rather our MINDS, are used to their images. We have this fear for ghosts because our minds are not used to viewing them as beings that co-exist with us within the 6 realms. Instead, our minds are habituated to view them with fear. Therefore, the problem lies with us. The fear of ghosts etc. is due to my fixed belief and perception, which influences my reaction to them.
With habituation, may we develop a different view about the ghosts and with a new view about them being a part of our universal system. May we develop compassion for them (which as Rinpoche advises, does NOT mean to interact with them) as the Dharma teaches us to be compassionate to all sentient beings.
I was once told that if we stay positive and kind, spirits and ghosts will not be able to stick to us. This applies for the case of whether you have affinity to them or you have the affinity for people to send them to harm you. They are attracted to negativity like jealousy, anger and hate. I found that since I have been participating in more dharma activities, I have become less angry and have almost gotten rid of all the hate embedded in me. As a result of that, I do not fear darkness as much as I used to. I use to stare into darkness and feel fear. Does anyone know whether that has anything to do with ghosts or spirits?
Wee Liang
Dearest Rinpoche
Thank you for this informative blog. I certainly believe in Spirit and Ghost.I was very arrogant and full of ego that I believe that I done no harm to others I shouldnt be afraid. I was wrong wrong wrong. My ex evicted me from the apartment in Causewaybay and I moved to apartments opposite Tung Hwa hospitals next to the Mortury. I was disturbed by spirit or rather the spirit attached to me. I would dress with shirts and tie to work and constant headhead and would want to kill myself most of the time. However, I was lucky at that time I met a benefactor Michelle Yim who brought me mooncakes and invited me to have “yum cha” with Bryan. (Bryan is a taoist – he knew what it was) he has never been to my apartment but he told me in my room there were things that you must throw destroy (my tarot cards – which in my younger days used them for fortune telling) He also told me that there things in my apartment in Singapre to be destroyed too. Someone has been controlling me with the items in the house with black magic). My lesson is best not to accept food, gifts from people. I learned my lesson well. Although it was a lesson. I also understand now some spirits are weaker and some are stronger some full of vengence hatre and pain. I am also glad that I have friends who come by to help me. My gratitude to 米雪, Bryan Lai and my “Lou Tau”. Thank you for helping me through my difficult times in Hong Kong. I believe all these happened to me is because of my own Karma. I may have hurt these being in my past lives. Correct me if I am wrong thank you.
With Much Love and Great Respect…
My mum and family members told me that I used to scare them with ghosts when I was much younger. Especially my full time stay at home mum who mentioned that I used to tell her someone is standing behind her or someone is the house or someone is staring at me from the ceiling. Well, I dont recall those things, I would rather think that I made it up just to scare them. Even when my kids tell me they have nightmare or scared, I always tell them to chant Setrap’s mantra.
Anyway, people always think that having the ’3rd eye’ is a good thing but it depends as mentioned by Rinpoche :
If you use the 3rd eye for good things then it is good. If you use it to take advantage of people, then it is not good.
If you have that ability, what your motivation behind it’s usage makes it good or negative.
It’s always the motivation that is of utmost importance.
Tsem Tulku
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing beneficial info about ghost and how to protect ourselves.
With Great Respect,
Maggie Chang
I used to see an old man all dressed in white in the little red huts by the trees, roadside when I was little but I have no re-collection of it. I think children do have the abilities to see such things but due to their innocence, they have no comprehension of what they are. I remembered once we were in a bed and breakfast in Scotland and were about to sleep and my young son who was 2 years old then, pointed to the curtain and said – man there. Yikes – scared the hell out of us. Thankfully, we only stayed one night.
I have always been fearful of ghosts for many years which I can’t explain why. Perhaps because of their horrible facial expression they have or maybe thinking that they would harm human beings for whatever reasons I guess. Little did I know that I was followed by a spirit for many years until when I met Tsem Rinpoche three years ago. Fortunately, with the kindness of my Lama – Tsem Rinpoche who compassionately introduce a powerful Dharma protector – Lord Setarp to engage in protector practice for self protection. It would scares the hell out of me even if I meet one today, guess it’s human nature
Thank you for sharing this understanding of ghost and black magic
Can you help me find the ‘link’:-)for the book
Protection from Black Magic and Spirits, so I can buy it!
Thank you Marianne
It is my understanding that once a person is fully possessed and has no free will it is a lifelong suffering and there is no hope for them to be free again. Part of the reason is that they are tied down by black magic and their mantras or prayers don’t work. They are unable to free themselves. Is this true? E
http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/ann/20101221/tmy-5-m-sian-cops-suffer-stomach-ache-af-d2ec26b.html
Sad to see that there are still many people practise black magic in this part of Asia.
I wonder if people that are attacked by black magic have been caused the harm due to their negative past lives? If so does it follow that the Tibetans in chinese prisons also have (all of them) the bad karma to be imprisoned and tortured? I think there are accidents. I don’t think it is always karma. Blaming an attack by black magic on the being attacked or Tibetans torture in prison on negative karma is like saying the rapist had no choice and the rape victim is a partially responsible party to the act. Is it sometimes just too late to purify? Maybe. I have issues about people having been good, even quite spiritual during their lives and then they are imprisoned/tortured or attacked by evil spirits and it is all over for them. Their life is excruciating suffering. If they go to the hell realms they will get enlightened faster. Manjushri It is almost impossible to become enlightened and the path is dangerous, you dare the obstacles but if you don’t you suffer. There is no escape.