To Burn or not to Burn ??

I chanced upon these 2 entries from the internet, interesting :

28 September 2002

Does Buddhism Advocate the Burning of Incense Paper?

No. Buddhism does not advocate this superstitious practice.

The Chinese tradition of burning incense paper began during the Han dynasty. For example, Tang dynasty’s Tai-Chang Bo-Shi Wang Yu said “Since Han when burial of money with the deceased was introduced during cremations, latter generations began to include this activity as one of the post-death rituals.” This implies that from Han dynasty onwards, for after death and during cremation, money is buried together with the deceased. This is because since olden times, the Chinese had held the belief that upon death, one will become a ghost. Thus <> also contain the saying “humans will return to be ghosts”, i.e. that upon death one will become a ghost. Moreover, with the belief that conditions in the ghost realm is similar to the human realm, and that they are differentiated in terms of locality only, then there will naturally be assumptions that ghosts also need to make a living and need money. And it is for this reasoning that the practice to bury money with the deceased is founded. Latter, when people start to find this usage of real money “none too economical”, they began to use paper tailored into forms similar to real currency and burnt for the ghosts instead. And in recent times, with the actual circulation of paper-notes for monetary purposes, this form of currencies for the nether world became even more popular.

Apart from being slightly different in form, this type of low-grade superstition can also be found in almost all the primitive races and religions. Material goods, currency exchanges, precious jewels, garments and even human and fowl sacrifices are some of the items used for burial with the deceased.

As for the practice of burning, it may be related to fire-worshipping religions. These religions believe that the fire deities can transfer all the burnt things to the ghost deities. Indian religion <

>’s Ah Shi Ni (fire deity) is one deity with such an ability.

Among the Chinese masses, paper-notes and thin metal foil are used as currency exchanges and precious gold and sliver. Moreover, there are also paper-and- glue made furniture, miscellaneous goods, houses and even modern cars, airplanes, yachts, etc. All these are made with the belief that after they are burnt, they will be accessible to ghosts for consumption.

In reality, Buddhism does not believe that upon death humans will definitely become ghosts. Instead, it believes that there is only one in six chances. Moreover, Buddhism also does not believe that by burning, incenses, paper-notes and ingots can actually be made available for use by ghosts. Buddhism only believes that by giving and making offerings to the Buddha, the relatives of the deceased can dedicate the resultant merits to the deceased, and provide the latter with after-death spiritual relief. Apart from these, all the other activities can be considered to be superstition and do not serve any purpose. Not only does Buddhism do not advocate the communal burial of materials offerings, it also suggest that for the deceased, expensive coffins should not be used, expensive clothing should not be worn and that mobilization of too much power and resources should be avoided. Instead it encourages that the deceased upon death be changed to clean clothing, and that new and expensive ones be donated to the poor and needy. Moreover, according to available means, giving to the poor and needy as well as making offerings to the 3 Treasures can be performed. It is only by performing these actions that the deceased will obtain real benefit. Otherwise, not is the burning of useful things an act of ignorance, they are also deeds not associated with Buddhist of right faith.

Unfortunately, today not only are many in the monastic community without a right understanding in this, many Buddhists in China are also inventing a kind of paper-note money called after-death currency. On these little pieces of yellow paper, Sanskrit versions of <> after-death mantra are printed with red-ink, and treated as currencies for the ghost realm. In reality, the results from the chanting of mantras and the burning of incense papers are totally unrelated. In fact, according to the sutras, scriptures that are printed cannot be burnt, least one sins.

Moreover, in present day where the monastics on the behalf of the lay people chant sutras, offer repentance, chant mantras for the hungry ghosts (Fang Yan Ko) and conduct prayer rituals (Da Shui Lu), a special commentary had to be written and read aloud before it is be torched to ashes. These are superstitious methods that can be traced to Fo Lu Pai’s Taoism, whereby formal written requests of help are made to worship deities to help in warding off spirits. They are by no means part of Buddha’s teachings. Buddhism only advocates the establishing of spiritual connection through deep sincere faith. If one’s mental prowess is sufficient, then even without burning commentaries, the prayers will still be answered. Otherwise, even if one is to torch thousands of pieces of paper how can one expect any positive outcome?

Why do we still need to burn paper money ?

So what do you guys think ?

Should I continue to hunt for more "paper products" eg paper brief cases, paper laptops, paper DVD players, paper can food, paper aircons etc and eventually burn them, or listen to what the above articles preach ??


Slightly enlightened,
little miss sacred