A simple method to help the hungry ghosts

fragment from my book 

Worshipping Amida Buddha - liturgies and ceremonies 

of Amidaji temple 

Click here to read about the state of hungry ghosts 

Click here to return to the main 
page of ceremonies for nonhuman beings

If you find the ceremony for hungry ghosts too difficult or too long, you can simply offer food (boiled rice, cookies, fruits or vegetables) and water to Amida Buddha and say the following words:

Amida Buddha, I offer you this food and water in the name of all hungry ghosts who suffer from hunger and thirst. Please receive it like it is offered by them. May they receive infinite food to forever satisfy their hunger and an infinite quantity of clear water to forever satisfy their thirst. May they be healthy in body and mind, make indestructible connections with you, entrust to you, say your Name and wish to be born in your Pure Land. Namo Amida Bu

If any hungry ghost is in the area (and believe me, there are many!), sees and hears what you are doing and rejoices in your act done in his name, then it is like he is doing it and he receives the karmic merit of that action which literally manifests in the form of infinite food and water. Because the object of your offering is pure (Amida Buddha), the hungry ghosts receive infinite merits and being cured by the sufferings of that state he may also entrust to  Amida Buddha and say His Name. In this way, you are actually saving them physically and spiritually.

My advice is that you never make any offering to Amida Buddha (including incense, flowers, food, water, etc) without saying you are doing it in the name of all beings or a specific being like the pretas (hungry ghosts). You never know how many nonhuman beings you are helping by that simple gesture and aspiration.