Kok Yek Yee explained on ignorance and misunderstanding, make many afraid of spirits, but in fact, spirits are everywhere. In Tibetan Buddhism, one does not look for a priest to perform exorcism when one encounters a spirit. Instead Buddhism believe,

Buddhists will, through pujas, chanting, and practice, dedicate their merits to the spirits. Kok Yek Yee said that Buddhists will treat spirits as friends, and that many people come to Kechara House because they are disturbed by spirits.

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Pastor Chia stressed that, the 7th lunar month is a holy month to make offerings to sangha, at the same time is a time to practice filial piety. Pastor Chia told Red Tomato that:

Generally, the public will prepare an abundance of food to be offered to the deceased, Pastor Chia said, this with the hope the deceased will live well in the other world. However, he said:

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However Pastor Chia Song Peng from Kechara House Buddhist Association Malaysia explained to a Malaysian Chinese daily, China Press that according to Buddhist beliefs, the seventh month is regarded as a holy month known as the ‘Ullambana festival’. He reiterated that if there is more understanding about the nature of the festival, there will be less paranoia associated with it. The seventh month should not be a time of morbid gloom, but it is the time to remember our departed kin.

Pastor Chia also advised to not be afraid if we do encounter a spirit, as we should have compassion for them to lead them to a better path by the dedication of merits. This is the better approach to handle encounters them. He also elaborated it from a Buddhist point of view that spirits are also sentient beings; and that one becomes a ghost because one is stubborn and unwilling to let go.

China Press gave a one and half pages of report on Ulambana Festival and few photos on activities, including animal liberation, children Dharma class, food distribution by Kechara Soup Kitchen and Grand Festival of Dzambala and Setrap organised by Kechara.

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Pastor Chia mentioned that, in fact, such ghost beings are always present among us as they share our common space and dimension. Their presence is all-pervasive. Human beings with high sensitivity or trained practitioners might be able to perceive their presence. This is what is means to be able to ‘see ghosts’ or to ‘sense the paranormal’.

On explaining incidents of possession, he said one of the reasons why a person can be possessed by ghosts is due to his or her karma inherited from his or her past life. There might be unsettled karmic debts or attachments; one is not simply possessed by ghosts without a reason. Pastor Chia further explained that:

Talking about ways to appease possessive ghosts in Buddhism, Pastor Chia said during the blessing ceremonies, the Tibetan Buddhist Pastor would recite Vajrayana prayers and seek the help of Lord Setrap’s powers to appease the possessive ghosts. On reasons to take rebirth as spirit, Pastor Chia expressed that:

Even though the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar is known as the ‘ghost month’, Pastor Chia said it’s actually a time to reflect upon the moral values of respecting the ancestors, whereas in Buddhism, the month is treated as a ‘holy month’.

The word ‘Ullambana’ in Sanskrit means to ‘rescuing those who are hanging upside-down’.

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In conjunction with the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Sin Chew Daily’s Supplementary editorial organized a public forum on the topic of the month – ghosts and spirits. Buddhist Pastor Chia Song Peng from Kechara Buddhist Organization of Malaysia and Christian Pastor Enoch Lam from Hong Kong were the speakers invited to share their perspectives on ‘ghosts’ in the forum.

The sensational forum, titled ‘Are there ghosts among us? Or are ghosts merely an abstraction?’ was organized by the Xiao En Group. The forum attracted an enthusiastic crowd of 500 odd audience members and was a memorable event for them.

The emcee for the night was the Daily’s deputy editor-in-chief of the supplementary editorial, Chen Yoke Lim. Pastor Chia Song Peng and Pastor Enoch Lam approached the topic with much delight. Both speakers gave rational analyses on the sensitivity of the topic and complemented their chilling stories with some food for thought. According to Pastor Chia, the six realms of existence in Buddhism refer to the realms of gods, humans, asuras (demi-gods), ghosts, animals and hell beings.

Of the six realms, the first three are referred to as the ‘upper realms’ while the last three are known as the ‘lower realms’. As the beings in the three ‘lower realms’ experience more suffering, we should have a kind heart and extend  our compassion towards them by making offerings to the Three Jewels on their behalf in order to lessen their pain.

Handling the Body of the Dying Person is an Important Matter

Pastor Chia relayed that at the time of death, the dying person will see a ray of light. For the deceased, this indicates that the consciousness is leaving the physical body. At this critical moment, the handling of the physical body is an important matter. It is preferable to touch the head of the deceased in order for his/her consciousness to leave the body from the crown of the head.

This way the deceased can have a better rebirth. Pastor Chia also advised to not disturb the mind of the person who is about to pass away. The consciousness of the recently deceased will be able to perceive the family members around him/her. The consciousness may cling onto the loud cries and linger around, therefore not being able to take rebirth. If the consciousness misses the window period of 49 days to take rebirth, he/she would fall into the ghost realm.

As a matter of fact, Pastor Chia revealed that there are not many differences between ghosts and humans. They are among us and there are those with good tempers and those with bad tempers. If one dies due to an accident, their consciousness would become fixated towards the incident, and he/she becomes a lingering ghost at or around the scene of accident.

“There are people who die of natural causes who are very attached to their living quarters. They miss their home deeply. As time is not a factor for the ghost, it might linger around the home for 10 or perhaps even 100 years. Even though the family has already moved away, the ghost will still loiter there.”

At times, the ghost may have an urge to make its presence known to people. It might possess a body to create a situation. This is commonly known as “paranormal occurrence”. Pastor Chia said that in Buddhism, the Chinese seventh month is an important time to practice filial piety. Through making offerings to the ThreeJjewels, Buddhists dedicate the merits generated to their deceased family members in order for them to have a good rebirth.

Pastor Enoch Lam: Belief in the Existence of Ghosts would Create Ties with Ghosts

Pastor Enoch Lam said that because ghosts want people to worship them, they manipulate people so that they would pray to them, to make them feel proud of themselves. In actuality, humans are superior to ghosts. Bewitched by ghosts, people become inferior instead.

According to Pastor Lam, what’s worse is when ghosts damage relationships between people. To be possessed by ghosts or to experience constant spirit disturbances, would lead to a person’s mood most definitely being effected. In the end it might even destroy the person’s life. This is the ghost’s most potent trick.

Pastor Lam pointed out that the door for the spirit can only be opened only when one chooses to. The most basic requirement for it to open up is to choose to believe in the existence of ghosts. Once the person has opened the door, he/she will form a tie with the ghost. Pastor Lam said that it is when one’s awareness is weak that he/she is most vulnerable to the ghost’s intrusion. He pointed out that most reported incidences of paranormal occurrences take place during the time right before sleep and right before waking up.

From the scientific point of view, these are the times when the brain’s alpha wave is most active. It is easier for the ghost to interfere during the alpha wave state. Besides that, being in deep thought and during meditation are also times when one is vulnerable to ghost possession. This is due to the prolonged state of being in an active alpha condition. Pastor Lam said, the other point of vulnerability is during sexual orgasm, as the period of being in an alpha wave state is prolonged. There are cults that encourage their followers inappropriate sexual conducts due to the desire in achieving such state.

Hence, it is easy for ghosts to take possession. Pastor Lam mentioned that different religious practices reflect the different beliefs of the afterlife. When loved ones pass away, Christians believe that the deceased would go to heaven. Therefore, crying over the death is just an emotional response. The deceased and their family members will meet again in a time to come.

Therefore, there is no need to be so sad. “Western graveyards are clean and neat. This is where their departed loved ones went to heaven. Hence, there would not be much fear of the graveyard.”

Disturbed by Ghosts – A Matter of Actively or Passively Seeking Them

Pastor Lam said that there are usually two types of ways that lead to one being disturbed by ghosts – active and passive ways. The active ways are approaches such as tarot card reading, used to interact with the ghost directly. The passive way is inevitable, such as being born with the ‘third eye’.

One might look up his/her family tree and find that an ancestor was able to communicate with the paranormal, whether as a medium or a sorcerer. An ancestor has opened such a channel to the paranormal and it affects the later generations of the family.

Pastor Lam also said that one only has to generate love and care from the bottom of the heart and strive towards the light to distance oneself from being controlled by the ghost.

Sin Chew Daily organized a forum on the topic of ‘ghosts’ in conjunction with the Chinese seventh month. The forum attracted an enthusiastic crowd. It was a full house in the hall.

Introducing Kechara's Spiritual Guide H.E.Tsem Rinpoche to our new friend

Pastor Chia Song Peng (left) and Pastor Enoch Lam approached the topic of ghosts with much delight. It captured the attention of the audience.

A token of gift to Chen Yoke Lim. From left: Pastor Kok Yek Yee, Chen Yoke Lim, Pastor Chia Song Peng, Paul Yap and Julia Tan

The Kechara team was present to support and promote

To alleviate this issue, Kechara has organized the Snap Pray Love Altar Competition to inspire everyone to have a shrine, regardless of religion, as a showcase of how spirituality can be a part of our daily lives.

Below is an interview and news report featured by Malaysian local Chinese daily, Oriental Daily on the judges and competition itself.

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As one of Rinpoche’s students, Eric shares how he gets peace of mind just by transforming himself, and how he was recently invited to be one of the judges of the Snap Pray Love altar competition which inspired by his Guru, to promote peace and harmony at home, where spirituality can be incorporated within one’s house design and daily life.

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The Good Times magazine, which strives to use the Internet as a platform to promote, share and develop good values recently interviewed Kechara’s pastors and published an article on very topic.

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(Source: http://www.goodtimes.my/index.php/Community/centre-ordains-buddhist-pastors-to-help-connect-with-society.html )

The report also highlighted the Lamrim as a scripture written by foremost Indian Buddhist scholar, Atisha during the 1st Century. It also quoted Kechara House Lamrim Recitation organising committee head, Ng Kok Heng encouraging families, friends and neighbours to come together for the good cause.

For those who are interested to bring spiritual benefits to your loved ones and yourself, please contact Kechara House at +603 7803 3108 or house@kechara.com.

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(Source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/05spkec/Article/)

It was reported that the recitation of The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path of Enlightenment (Lamrim) will start on the 27th of June, with the highlight being a 24-hour marathon recitation from 8am on the 2nd of July to 8am on the next day.

With the purpose being to achieve purification of the mind, removal of obstacles, bringing regional peace and harmony through the recitation, Kechara welcomes the public to actively take part in this event and has received approval from the Malaysia Book of Records to make it into the book.

The article also mentioned that The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path of Enlightenment (Lamrim), written by a famous revolutionist and scholar in the Buddhist world from 600 years ago, Tsongkhapa, is a Dharma book with a complete system that explaines profound teachings in simple language. Read more about the benefits of reciting the Lamrim here.

We hope that Kechara House will get plenty of enquiries and do join us for this retreat – not only will you receive Dharmic benefits in the long run, you will also help Kechara achieve a record-breaking feat.

For more information and to register, call Janice Kwok on +6012 268 1999 or Sock Wan Wee +6012 208 1597.

DATE 2 to 3 July 2011
TIME 8am to 8am (24 hours)
VENUE Kechara House Gompa

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